Moonlit Fur Chronicles: Lucid Fur
Chapter 21 No Rest for the Wicked

I returned to my wolf form and nudged both Phoenix and Quinn playfully. I bolted into the trees. They howled and gave chase. We chased each other and play-fought for hours, it was great fun. I knew we needed a break from all the chaos, a chance to spend time together and enjoy each other’s company. This was our chance and we made the most of it. I was yanked from my thoughts as Phoenix growled playfully and landed on my back. Instinctively I rolled over, which launched her a few feet away. I sensed Quinn was about to pounce. I rolled one more time, Quinn landed right beside me, where I had been less than a second ago. Two on one, this was interesting. I rolled to my paws as Quinn and Phoenix stalked me in a tight circle. They snapped and barked playfully. My lips pulled back in a wolfish grin. Their eyes shone bright with excitement. Our shadows danced in the moonlight as I dodged Phoenix and counter attacked Quinn.

Something felt wrong, incredibly wrong. The power of the Alpha emanated from me as I barked. Quinn’s and Phoenix’s ears instantly lay flat on their heads. They dropped low to the ground. I cocked my head to the side and rotated my ears. I knew I heard something, a twig snap or a leaf crunch under a footstep. I inhaled deeply and searched for unfamiliar scents. I found it! I whipped my head and pointed my snout in the right direction. I growled loudly in warning. Phoenix and Quinn were instantly at my side and scanned the darkness. We heard a leaf rustle and the sound of claws scratch along tree bark.

Three large werewolves materialized from the dark trees. The one in the middle seemed vaguely familiar. I stared at it. I had seen this wolf several years ago, I couldn’t remember where. The one in the center lifted its nose and sniffed at me. I growled threateningly. The wolf in the center pulled its lip back in a toothy grin. I didn’t like this wolf. It felt strange yet familiar. My anger rose to heights I had long forgotten. I felt the Power of the Alpha wash over me and my pack, Phoenix and Quinn felt it too. They growled at the strange wolves. The center wolf grinned fiendishly, it turned around slowly, and walked about. The two wolves backed up, fangs exposed threateningly. They disappeared as quickly as they arrived. The three of us waited for a few minutes to make sure they were actually gone. We crept home as stealthily as we could.

We took our time and backtracked several times to ensure that we were not followed. The strange wolves were long gone. I knew I had seen the leader somewhere. I racked my brains for an answer, nothing came to the forefront of my mind. We arrived at home safe and sound. Quinn and I cuddled up to her on the couch and I thought about this intruder wolf. I knew it had been years since I had seen it, but I hadn’t been a werewolf for that long. This puzzle caused my head to ache. I put my head on her shoulder. Phoenix sat down beside me and put her hand on my leg, “Are you alright Reese?” I took her hand in mine and kissed it. I held her hand and returned it to my leg. “I don’t know. That wolf was so familiar, I can’t remember when I saw it. I’m so frustrated!” Quinn played with my hair and consoled me, “Deep breath baby, you’ll figure it out.”

Phoenix pulled my feet into her lap and began to massage them. I moaned softly, “That feels outstanding, Phoenix, thank you.” She smiled at me. The sun began to peek over the trees, Ellis stumbled out of his room in search of coffee. “Hi, Ellis,” I called to him. He grunted incoherently at me. I giggled. “Coffee,” Ellis comically imitated a zombie groan. The three of us laughed at his antics. Once I caught my breath, I asked him if he’d hear Goliath’s proposition. He agreed. I stood up and stretched. I was exhausted, “I’m going to bed,” I announced. I padded off to my room, Quinn followed. She stood behind me and wrapped her arms around me. She kissed my neck. It felt fantastic to be in her arms again. I wished it would never end. Quinn slid around me and led me to our bed. We crawled in and held each other, we fell asleep quickly.

I awoke about an hour or two before dusk. I kissed Quinn’s forehead and went to find some coffee. I found Ash on the couch, he listened to a conversation between Ellis, Kai, and Drew. I sat down beside and asked him in a hushed tone, “Hey Ash, how are you?” He looked into my eyes, I saw sadness reflected in them. “It’s hard to breathe, Reese. I miss him so much.” I put my arm around his shoulder and gave him a firm squeeze. “I know, Ash. I know.” We sat in silence as Ellis, Kai, and Drew babbled on. “They look happy together,” Ash’s voice was thick with melancholy. My lips curled into a half smile. “They do make a cute couple,” I agreed. We watched them for a few minutes. “The gargoyles are stopping by tonight,” I began. “They want to talk to all of us. I think they want to join the pack, in a weird way. They’ll explain everything.” Ash shrugged, “It doesn’t matter to me. I’m curious to know what that might look like though.” I nodded, “Me too.”

The sun sank behind the trees and we all gathered in the backyard to wait for the gargoyles to arrive. As I looked at my wolves, they appeared happy and healthy. I tried to remember when we all got together to do something that did include war or fights to the death. I wanted to gather us together for something fun, maybe an escape room or something fun. The winds whistled and howled as eight ginormous gargoyle wings beat the air. They floated gracefully to the ground. Goliath took a step forward and spoke to all of us. “I am Goliath, leader of this clan.” He stepped back and Lilith took a step forward. The gargoyles took turns and introduced themselves. Goliath stepped forward again and began to explain how gargoyles had always had a mutually beneficial arrangement with humans. Both groups had traditionally protected each other during vulnerable times. Historically, the humans the gargoyles interacted with had lived in grand castles or great fortresses.

“We would like to continue this tradition with your clan,” Goliath continued. “We would spend the daylight hours in slumber. The nights will be filled with finding sustenance in the forest or defending your clan. Reese mentioned it may be like we would add ourselves to your clan.” “Family,” I interjected. “Thank you Reese,” he replied. “You’re welcome. I for one would be grateful for additional protection for my loved ones. There are new werewolves in the woods. I do not know what they want. I do not trust them.” The news of new werewolves wasn’t shocking, it had happened before, but it usually ended poorly. Violence and death usually followed us. All of my wolves agreed that the gargoyles should join us.. They had a few questions, naturally but no outright objections. I think everyone was interested in a few more fighters to help keep each other safe. Our two groups mingled and chatted with each other. Most of my wolves knew Cordelia from past encounters.

I took a seat on a lounge chair by the pool and watched the gargoyles and wolves interact. I didn’t feel the need to join in because I knew all the gargoyles much better than my pack did. I wanted them to mingle; dawn wasn’t for several hours. I watched my pack and the clan with a sense of pride and accomplishment. It always felt good when two groups were brought together in harmony. I hoped this harmony and camaraderie would last, I knew how difficult it was for werewolves and humans to coexist in the same space. I wondered if Goliath and his clan ever experienced poor treatment from humans, ’It would be an interesting story to say the least,’ I thought morbidly to myself. I watched Goliath incline his ear towards Cordelia for a moment. Goliath and Lilith made their way over to me. ’Cordelia, you supposed to be listening to my pack, not me,’ I mentally exclaimed. ’I can do both with ease,” she mentally responded.

“Thank you, Reese for allowing me and mine a chance to meet with your pack,” Goliath offered. “It wasn’t me, they all agreed to hear you. Everyone has a voice and it’s not ‘My’ pack,” I put special emphasis on the word ‘my’. “I only step in and make big decisions if I absolutely have to or if we all can’t agree. They chose me, against my better judgment, to lead them.” Goliath seemed puzzled. “You are a remarkable human, Reese,” Lilith complimented. “Most of our historic interactions with human leaders have led us to believe that human leaders are power-hungry, self-serving fools.” I actually laughed. “Yes, that is most definitely correct,” I agreed. “The leaders in the human world are terrible monsters, and that means something coming from a werewolf.” Goliath and Lilith laughed at my joke, it seemed like we would all make one big happy family some day.

Goliath asked me where the best places for the gargoyles to slumber were. I shrugged my shoulders, “What does a slumber spot require? I’m woefully ignorant.” He casually listed off a few ideas that sounded like they were from a shopping list for an architect. Slumber spots could be outdoors or indoors as long as the gargoyle had lots of space to assume various positions. I offered space in the house, space on the perimeter of the garden and pools, at the front and rear entrances to the house. We wolves wouldn’t care much unless it impeded traffic. I brought Goliath and Lilith inside the house and showed them the high traffic areas in the kitchen, living room and basement. Goliath and Lilith had sufficient slumber spot ideas to keep them occupied. We returned to the backyard and mingled with the rest of the pack and clan.

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