Furry Art Pile

‘Eyes Of The Pack’:

Chapter 15: Shallow Bay

Part One: The Blades Of Darkness

Chapter 15

All names/vehicles/systems/parts/characters are property of their respective owners/manufacturers/creators/players

This particular pile of words is property of DireWolf505/NMB.

Barry came awake fast, rolling over Sarah’s sleeping form, hearing her gasp, as he grabbed up his Para. He rolled into a crouch, pistol up and ready, breathing hard. His eyes tracked back and forth in a rapid sweep.

“Barry?” Sarah’s voice came out of the darkness. “ Barry, there is nothing to fear, we are alone.” She said, in a calm, gentle voice. He heard the rustle of the sheets as she moved, and wrapped her furry arms around him.

After a few moments, the pistol drooped, and he took a ragged breath. He nodded. “ Sorry. Just . . . Dunno, had a feelin’.” He explained, leaning back into her embrace. She rubbed her chin on his head, and he relaxed.

Sarah held him loosely, letting his breathing slow. Finally he took a deep, calming breath, and stood. She rose with him, and he placed the pistol back by the bed, as Sarah’s tail ran around his waist, trailing off as she opened the bedroom door, and used the bathroom. Barry stood, drinking water, and looking at the grey light that filtered through the thin window. He could still see that big revolver, tumbling through the air . . .

Sarah’s warm hand on his shoulder startled him from his thoughts, and he walked to the bathroom. When he returned, Sarah was laying on her side, on the futon pad, head propped on one hand, her eyes glowing with the reflected light of the bathroom. Closing the bedroom door, he slipped into bed next to her, getting a lick behind the ear.

He let himself slip into a warm drowse, as they cuddled up together. Sarah soon followed, with a soft sigh.

A few hours later, Barry came awake slowly, warm sunlight filling the window. He looked over at Sarah, the big grey and white furred shifter sleeping on her back, her ears tilted slightly back, relaxed. He looked her over, taking in her ‘war’ form. Muscular, with soft fur, shaggier at her ankles, shoulders, and wrists, her large breasts flattened only slightly by gravity. As he watched, he smiled as she licked her muzzle, her long, pink tongue moving slowly. His gaze moved past her gleaming fangs, two inches long, only about an inch showing past her lips.

He lightly ran his fingers along the nearly faded scar on her side, only slightly pink, fur already growing over the nearly invisible scar. She rumbled in her sleep at his touch, moving slightly, and Barry smiled. He let his fingers move to her stomach, feeling the hard musculature under the soft fur, and thin sheathing of fat. He scratched gently, fingers moving in a circular motion.

Sarah’s rumble deepened, and she smiled in her sleep, the tip of her tongue showing at the front of her muzzle. She stretched, and her body shimmied slowly with pleasure at his scratching, her rumbling deepening again.

Sarah’s eyes opened a crack, and she yawned hugely, revealing a fearsome array of sharp white teeth, and her long pink tongue curling up.

She blinked a few times, and looked over to Barry, blinking her eyes, and Barry was taken in by them. The left one was a deep green, and right a medium blue, both bright and alert, locking onto his, as her ears popped up.

“ Good morning, my male.” She yawned again, and stretched, before putting her arms around Barry, hugging him close, and kissing him deeply. Barry relaxed into her embrace, returning her kiss.

After they broke, Barry grinned. “ G’ morning, darlin’.” He drawled, as she nuzzled his throat, licking lightly. He scratched her behind the ears, watching as her tail waved happily. She pulled her head back, so they lay nose-to-nose, his green eyes warmly holding her dual-colored ones.

After a few minutes of silence, Sarah grinned impishly, and licked his nose wetly, making him laugh. Barry rubbed at his nose, drying it off as she giggled, ears up. Barry shook his head, and ran his hand down one of her arms, and then stretched.

He stood up, and stretched, Sarah’s eyes following him. He scooped up the pistol, and she stood as well, him heading for the kitchen, the ‘shifter padding along behind him nearly silently.

Once at the kitchen he washed his hands, and began to cook, Sarah assisting him. With her ability, speaking wasn’t necessary, and only the sounds of opening cupboards and cooking food filled the room.

They ate in the living room, TV off. Sarah curled her long tail around his waist as they ate sitting close together.

After cleaning the dishes, Barry handed her a soda, and they stood in the kitchen, drinking. Sarah put her soda down, and wrapped Barry up in a hug, nuzzling his cheek, licking at his ear lightly. Barry smiled, hugging her back, looking up into her loving eyes.

They went back to the bedroom, laying curled up together. They spent the rest of the day cuddled up together, enjoying the closeness, and relaxing. They napped, and held each other, rarely speaking, throughout the day.

They were both startled awake by a crash from the front.

“ Front door,” Sarah snarled, surging up from beside him. He grabbed up the pistol, making for the door, Sarah at his heels. As he opened it, Sarah sniffed, and he heard her gasp.

“ Barry, no!” She called, as he pelted out into the hall. In the glow of the outside lights, he saw shapes. Big, furred shapes. The nearest one looked at him, and growled, eyes shining a pale yellow.

(( More ‘shifters?! ))

“ Back off.” Barry gritted, as the ‘shifter crouched. There were more, but they merely watched, as the first prepared to spring. Barry swung up the Para-Ordinance, squeezing the trigger, the gun blasts huge in the enclosed space.

The wolf-’shifter squalled as the first two .40 caliber rounds punched it back, the third and fourth spinning him around and dropping him. Another leapt over his fallen comrade, hissing balefully. Barry got the pistol up in time, a fast double-tap into the feline-’shifter’s head.

The heavy body crashed into Barry’s legs, knocking him to the hallway floor, and the others swarmed him, growling. One stomped his hand, making him release the pistol, as another wolf-’shifter pinned him, growling, eyes slits, teeth bared.

Barry heard a laugh from the bedroom, and then Sarah’s chilling snarl. The laughter turned into a screech of pain, and Barry heard a crashing struggle. A large, powerful shape loomed over the pinned man.

Eight feet tall, and nearly as wide as the hall, he looked down at the human. He sniffed, and nodded.

“ Now, Sarah. You keep strugglin’, I begin breaking his fingers.” The voice was deep, powerful and tinged with dark humor. The sounds of struggle slowed, then stopped. The huge bear-’shifter nodded.

Barry watched from under the ‘shifter pinning him, as Sarah was lead out of the room, ears back, body posture low. She gave Barry a miserable, hopeless look.

“ Kill the male, and we ge-” The bear ordered, only to get cut off.

“ No! You kill him, Ragger, and I will kill you, even if it takes my last breath.” Sarah said quietly, her voice hard.

Ragger looked at Barry, then at Sarah. He took a moment to think, and then nodded. “ You agree to be my Alpha female, and to treat me good, with respect, and I’ll let the male live.”

Sarah sighed, shoulders slumping. She wouldn’t look at Barry, as she nodded. “ I agree.” She whispered. The huge bear-’shifter grinned.

He looked at Barry, walking up to him. Ragger waved the wolf off of him, and crouched down.

“ You stay, on your side of t’ese mountains. You come, my side, we kill you. I like Sarah, I give her your life, as a gift.” The bear placed one big finger in the center of Barry’s forehead. There was a flash of intense pain behind Barry’s eyes, and then everything went black.

Consciousness slowly returned, bringing with it a pounding headache.

Barry laid there for a minute, trembling. His tried to sit up, and couldn’t.

“ I wouldn’t do that, Mister Roberts.” A voice said from his right. “ I also caution you not to open your eyes. What Ragger used on you will leave you light sensitive for a bit.” The voice was soft and warm, gentle and feminine. “ Don’t move, Mister Roberts.” She cautioned again. “ I’ll bring you something that will help.”

Barry lay there, feeling waves of pain and weakness alternating through his body. He took a deep breath, trying to wiggle his toes, and fingers, feeling sensation return, prickly and painful.

After several minutes, he felt an arm around his shoulders. He was eased up into a sitting position. “ Drink this, Mister Roberts.” The voice said, and he felt a cup touch his lips. He took a breath, smelling tea, but with a blend of scents he couldn’t identify. The hot steam tickled his nose, and he sipped the tea. It was bitter, but he tasted honey, as well as other things.

She kept the cup at his lips, and as he neared the bottom of it, he was holding it, hands wrapped around the warm mug. The brew was strong, and he began to feel better, pains fading, his mind clearing. She retreated, and he slowly opened his eyes, wincing at the pain. He’d braced himself, but he still gasped at the stab of light.

He blinked, slowly shaking his head, mentally tallying up the bumps and bruises. He noticed that he was in the main room, on the rug.

(( Bastards must have dragged me. ))

The front door was relatively undamaged, the lock and doorknob torn out. Blinking and squinting in the light, he looked around, and finally came to the couch. She was perched on the back of it, heels together, watching him intently.

He looked her up and down. She was older, 50s or so, with long black hair, and deep green eyes. She was slim, and in good shape, her face blank, wearing blue pants, and a white shirt.

Barry’s mouth was cottony, even after the tea, but he managed to growl. “ You with Ragger?”

She shook her head. “ No, Mister Roberts.”

Barry nodded. “ Then, thank you.” He stopped. Looking at her quizzically, he squinted. “ Who are you, and how come ya know my name?” He asked, holding his head.

“ My name is Deena Berents, Mister Roberts. I am Sarah’s mother.” She replied softly. “ I know a lot about you, and your situation. How I know, does not matter.”

Barry nodded. “ Under different circumstances, I’d say I was pleased t‘ meet ya, and ask you how. But right now, I’m rather pissed off, and in a hurry.” He said, testing his legs carefully, before standing. He swayed, but recovered.

“ There is more of the tea, on the stove, Mister Roberts.” She said.

Barry nodded, heading for the kitchen, and pouring more of the fragrant liquid. He sipped at it, looking the older woman over.

“ This stuff’s good. Thank you.” Barry said, with a nod.

“ Old family recipe, Mister Roberts.” She said, with a fleeting smile.

Barry nodded, and refilled his cup, then headed for his bedroom, picking up his pistol from where he’d dropped it on his way by. He noted the blood, and matted fur that splashed the wall and puddled on the floor. He stepped out of the room a few minutes later, in black BDU pants, and a dark blue t-shirt, pistol still in his hand, sipping the tea. He stepped to his workroom.

Inside, he flipped on the lights, looking over the racks and cabinets. He went to the large green crate, unlocking it, and beginning to remove the dividers, and going through things.

(( Won’t be needing the armor, just slow me down. ))

Deena’s voice behind him wasn’t a surprise. “ What are your intentions, Mister Roberts?” She asked, watching him move things around.

Barry slipped on a set of holsters, and then the shotgun holster. He checked the stubby semi-automatic 12 gauge’s function, then loaded it. He looked at her, his eyes hard.

“ My intention, ma’am, is to get Sarah back.” He ran the bolt, then loaded another shell into the gun, before holstering it. He pulled a load-bearing vest out of the box, putting it on, the end of the holster, and the hand-grip of the shotgun sticking up.

“ And Ragger?” She asked.

“ I’m going to kill him.” Barry checked a pair of pistols, and then loaded them, before holstering them. He took out four more pistols, and slipped them into holsters. He dug out magazines, and unlocked a cabinet, and began loading magazines, as Deena watched. He loaded the guns, and then finished loading the other mags.

“ Mister Roberts, you realize that this is very dangerous? You will find that Ragger, and his ilk, are very strong, and our kind are very hard to kill.” Deena said quietly. “ You understand exactly what Sarah is?”

Barry looked at her. “ Yes, ma’am. She’s a wonderful person, that I love very much. I know it’s dangerous, and that y’all don’t die easy. Don’t care. I love her, an’ I am gonna get her back.” He replied quietly.

Deena smiled. “ You have my blessing, Barry. I will lead you to the Pack’s Den.” She said, nodding.

Barry blinked, then returned her nod. He went to the cabinet, and locked it. He knelt by the crate, and drew out a large, wicked looking combat knife. He attached the scabbard to the right shoulder of the web-gear, tugging it, to check if it was secure.

“ How many of them are on Rag-guh.” Barry said, as he turned towards Deena, who had removed her clothing, and folded it carefully, placing it on the floor, before shifting into her normal form. Her fur was midnight black, like her hair, and her fangs gleamed against her glossy fur. Barry blinked at the nude femme. “ Sorry. How many of the Pack are on Ragger’s side?” He asked, after clearing his throat.

Deena smiled slightly. “ He has gathered two Ferals, to add to his four Betas. The others go along with him. They are not very loyal, just unwilling to effect change.” She paused. “ Do not expect the others of the Pack to assist you. Ragger may be harsh, and vicious, but he is our kind. You are not.”

Barry nodded, checking his gear. “ I understand, ma’am.” He looked over the room, trying to see if he was missing anything.

(( Guns, ammo, knife. I must be nuts, but, dammit, I love her. She talked him into giving me a chance. I won’t waste it. ))

“ I can see now, why my Sarah chose you. You are willing to risk everything, for those you care about.” Deena hesitated, then put her paw-like right hand on his left shoulder. He felt a tingling run through him from the contact. “ I have something to explain to you. Rite of challenge.” She took a deep breath. “ I hesitate to tell you of this, as you are an outsider, not of our kind, and I have doubts you could survive . . .”

Barry looked up at her, his eyes hard, filled with a deep coldness.

“ If it’ll help me get Sarah back, I wanna know. And, I’m tougher’n I look, plus I have an asset Ragger doesn’t.” He took a deep breath.

Deena tilted her head. “ What is that, Barry?”

“ Rage.” He said quietly.

The black-furred ‘shifter nodded. “ Honed properly, anger is a superb weapon, a keen blade.” She responded. She peered into his eyes, and smiled. “ Then, I will explain. If you are going to fight Ragger, you will have to use the rite of challenge. Anyone, even an outsider, can challenge a Pack Alpha. You’ll need a clan name, though, for it to be accepted as truly valid.”

Barry scratched behind one ear. “ I don’t have that.”

Deena smiled again. “ Sarah’s clan is Greywind, her father’s name, it is also my clan’s name.” The ‘shifter leaned forward. “ Sarah has chosen you, Barry. I believe she has chosen wisely.” She said softly. She licked his cheek, and whispered. “ Lightpaws. That is her secret name.” She leaned back, tail waving slowly.

Barry touched his cheek. He looked at her for several moments, then nodded. “ Thank you, Mrs. Berents.”

She shook her head. “ Call me Deena.” Her ears flicked.

“ Okay. Thank you, Deena.”

The ‘shifter nodded, and her face became grim. “ I will lead you over the mountain, in my four-legged form, you can follow in your truck.”

Barry nodded, and looked around one more time, before heading to his room. “ I have one more thing to handle.” Inside, he turned on the computer, and booted it up. He got onto the ‘net, and typed out a message to Rich, at the store’s email account.

Rich,

Something has happened, and I need to deal with it. If I don’t get into contact with you in a month, assume I’m dead. The papers to transfer the store are in the safe. Already signed, and set.

Stay safe, hope to see you soon.

Later,

Barry.

He hit ‘Send’, and shut down the computer, Deena watching him carefully. He switched off the lights, and went to the backroom, shutting down the power to everything but the freezers. He walked towards the door, picking up a beat-up gray cap off of a shelf. He placed it on his head, adjusted his gear, and nodded at Deena.

“ You are ready, Barry?”

He shrugged. “ Ready as I’ll ever get.” He replied.

Deena shifted to her four-legged form, and he ran his eyes along the powerful, lean wolfess’ frame. She shook herself, and stepped out the door. Barry followed, wedging a piece of firewood into the frame to keep it closed, and headed to the truck. He took a deep breath of the mid-day air, exhaling, putting himself into the combat mindset.

He opened the door of the truck, and adjusted his belt. As he cranked the truck up, he looked at Deena, standing a few yards ahead.

“ Alright, Sarah. Hang on, I’m comin’.” (( . . . And Hell’s comin’ with me, Ragger. Count on it. ))