Under Alune

Rik the Hero

Aeisha spent much of the next day in a garden on the roof of her apartment building, staring off toward the Splitway. Kyresh and Aeryka delighted in chasing each other through thin grass and around sparse trees. Although they didn't know and hardly would have understood that their mother worried over their father's fate, the cubs somehow sensed their mother unease. Occasionally, in the midst of some game of chasing or pouncing they would break off and come to Aeisha. She smiled at them then scratched their heads and petted them, momentarily distracted; But when they scampered off, her mind went back to Keysean.

'And, why?' she would think, 'Why does this story came to mind?'

Finally, as she served her cubs a dinner of raw chicken, she started to tell them the tale. Kyresh licked his long jaws and looked up to her.

"The world was a bit past it's youth, the flood had receded many millinnia previous. The firmament was shifting still, yet the skies were not so rife with hot ash from the fire-mountains. Gaia took hold again on the land after a time, and men began to flourish."

Aeisha drew Aeryka up into her lap where the feline curled up and faced her mother.

"It was long after the Nameless-one had freed our kind from the wretched servitude of the Nosferatu and Dexxolos and other vampire kingdoms. We gathered in the forests and capered in our youth. But Alune was a harsh glare in those days and we struggled to control our selves and our strengths. Humans and mages alike shunned us, the forest resented us for what we were, and her peoples heeded her voice.

"Radraberriz was the first shifter village to hide itself completely from the eyes of others, and there we gained much in terms of solace in the wood. It was here that we learned to satiate our rages in the Gatherings.

"Then among the Shifters in Radraberriz was born Thedesh, a shifter born in and bound to human guise in his youth. He one day reported that he could hear the voice of Alune and proved himself mightier than his form suggested. Thedesh was lifted above his brethren as a War-god and sent with all the host of Radraberriz to take an Elven stronghold. He became a mad tyrant under Ala'une as they entered the elven vertry and smote all within. So consumed was he in his rage that he smote too the army which followed him then disappeared. After a season, Thedesh returned to his village and took all into his will."

Kyresh whimprered then sneezed. Aeisha smiled down at him and rubbed his nose gently. He scampered into her lap which stared a tussle between his sister and himself for space. When the two had calmed down, Aeisha continued;

"Thedesh bore forth twenty children- ten sons, ten daughters- all who have their place amongst the stars; but there is one tale in specific about Dettuenu, third born, that is of heavy legend.

"For Thedesh was mad with love for Alune, and heeded any of her slightest whispers. Yet, you should know, that Alune only sees and shows. It is Alura that whispers from the dark side of the moon, and sends us into chaos. Oft times, though Alune is prominent, so is the volume of Alura; She grows more and more jealous with every eye that regards Alune's light. Alura goaded Thedesh into many atrocities and wars among the un-changing, which soon brought the hands of man and mage against Radraberriz.

"Many of Thedesh's children were slain, as well as denizens and slaves of Radraberriz. The war raged long in search of any who could have escaped. A druid refered to Gaimayndir, nature's own hand, was foremost in searches through the forests. Gaimayndir had also a daughter who was called Darlaune-the-fey or Dyer-Darlaune, a tree-born druid maiden. Darlaune-the-fey found Dettuenu son of Thedesh and fell for him. She saved him from certain death from the hands of the fleet and lithe elven-kin, and took him as her husband..."

Aeisha left off there to stare out of a window. Her cubs had drifted off to sleep, and the story became bitter in her mouth. Her eyes grew hot and spilled forth tears at every slow blink.

There came a knock at the door. Aeisha hesitated, her assumptions racing wildly as to who would be on the other side of the door. She dried her eyes and carefully laid her children on the floor.

The knocking continued as she approached.

"Aeisha, can I come in? It's Rik."

Aeisha opened the door and there he was, clad in thin red linens in preparation for the gathering. Latyurik smiled at her sweetly, something of a rarity for him, and offered her a bouquet of white carnations.

"Figured you could use a bit of cheering up, Eesh," he said as she took them.

"Thanks Rik," she replied stepping out of the way of the entrance

"You ok?"

"Not for now," she left the room to plant the carnations in a temporary pot and when she returned, Latyurik was seated on her couch.

"I'm sorry-"

"Not your fault, Rik"

"Yes but-"

"And it won't matter for long. Keysean will be back tomorrow."

"Actually, I have a better plan," said Latyurik waving her over to him. "I was talking to my grandpa Chedrex last night and he thinks its a good idea too."

"Out with it then," said Aeisha, curious.

"I take your place tonight as watchman, right."

"Uh huh."

"Then when the ceremony is in full swing, I slip out and head for the Split-way."

"Chedrex approved of this?"

"Well I'll be alone and relatively calmed, It will be easy for me to evade the gobold-kin in stealth form if I'm by myself. And then there won't be any trouble of me raging on anyone- well no one we care about at least."

"I don't know, Rik. What if you screw up? You might endanger Keysean."

"I can do it, Eesh! Don't you trust me?"

"I just don't trust the druid."

"Hey, come on Eesh, you're killing me here." Latyurik slipped closer to her. "I can do it, you know I can. I'm the best there is. I got the will of destiny riding behind me."

"Don't start with that s**t, Rik. Not right now."

But Latyurik had already begun his boastful rambling; "Destiny, yea, right now! I got it all babe, straight from birth. This could be my chance!"

"You sound like a f*****g fool, Rik."

"Why won't you give me a chance, don't you trust me?"

"Yea I trust you Rik, but-"

"But what?"

"I think you should trust the Elders." Aeisha slid over the couch as far away from Latyurik as she could go and wrapped her arms around herself. "I think you need to chill out."

"So you won't even let me try."

"I'd rather watch tonight anyway. The Gathering's no fun without Key."

Latyurik stood angrily and did not look back. He moved quickly for the door but stopped as he grasped the doorknob. "Aight, well, don't come to me when Key gets all cut up and s**t. You wanna wait and let it happen, go right the f**k ahead."

Latyurik slammed the door behind him, which woke the children. Aeisha sighed extra long at her present duress and went to console her mewling cubs. With them firmly in hand she left the apartment for the Gathering.

---

Vosque watched as the apothecaries sedated Hunter. The eagle-shifter was in human guise and unconscious, lying amongst the other wounded on a bed of thistle and aloe. Huntress stood alongside him with her hand resting on his shoulder. The apothecaries hummed their droning tune and passed burning clumps of herbs back and forth over Hunter's body.

Vosque patted his friend's knee then gave a nod to Huntress. The night air that greeted him outside of the hospitaler's tent was chill and crisp, banishing away the tendrils of intoxication from the herbs. Ala'une was full and bright to light his way across the Hollow-tree Hall's wide lawn.

Efeala was with the youth this night, so Vosque was alone for the Gathering. He waved and nodded to the shifters filing into Hollow-tree hall in chattering groups. Red linen flapped lazily with the breeze, and disappeared through the wide-flung doors.

Vosque looked again to Ala'une, and decided he wasn't ready to join in the festivities. Instead, he searched for Latyurik among the throngs. He feared his friend would attempt something foolish while the elders were distracted by the Gathering. Latyurik was normally unpredictable except when it came to rash behavior; and worse still, his closest elder Chedrex sometimes seemed to accept his behavior. Vosque frowned.

He left the courtyard and traveled along a muddy path through the marsh-belt. It didn't take him long to go the distance in stealth-form, and soon he was looking with ferret's eyes over the common grounds. There he could make out a form sitting in the field.

Vosque was a step away from Latyurik before he shifted into man-guise and spoke; "What you doin' out here, man?"

"Oh.." said Latyurik softly as if part of him was somewhere else. "Hey V, I just needed some-"

"Time?" Look at you man." Vosque offered his hand to his friend. "Yo, we gotta go there'll be time after the Gathering to think."

"Yea?" Latyurik allowed himself to be pulled up. "I was done anyway."

"What was you thinkin' about?" asked Vosque as they set out toward the pinnacle of the High-hill.

"Oh you know man, when we were kids."

"Yea?"

"I dunno, I just remember Key was like my big bro; You and Hunt too, kinda. But I kinda always looked up to Key."

"Hey man, don't worry. Key always finds a way out of this sort of thing. If not, we'll all go get him tomorrow, you get?"

"Tomorrow..."

"That's why I came down-"

"You talked to Aeisha?" Latyurik stopped in mid-bog and appeared as prey before a hunter.

"What? Naw man, I just-"

Suddenly the role Latyurik played switched. "Yo man, f**k you. I ain't stupid."

"Didn't say-"

"Don't need you to come save me neither," said Latyurik angrily. He continued before Vosque had a chance to retort. "f**k you and your help. You can't do nothin' to stop me no way."

"Stop you from what? Besides being crazy."

"Crazy? How'd you find me? That's what I thought." Latyurik sneered. "Aeisha told you to look out for me huh? Everybody go look out for little Rik, he can't do s**t for himself."

Vosque turned sharply to Latyurik, anger bristling at the nape of his neck. "Dude, you need to ch-"

"Chill out? f**k that, I know what I'm doin."

Vosque's eyes touched Ala'una and he at once knew why his friend was acting harsher than usual. The full moon. That still could not stop him from speaking with contempt. "Oh yea? You a man now? Do what you want?"

"That's right Vosque. Don't need you to worry about me. I was born that way, that's the way I'll live."

Vosque just shook his head and kept walking. "Why would you even bring that up; You want me to pity you? s**t, right now, you sound just like that pup I once saved from the dog-catchers."

Vosque was paying so much attention to his speech that he didn't notice Latyurik's footsteps had stopped. He had time only to hear the sound of crickets chirruping and the bog-dwellers hunting. Then there came a feral bellow and the pain of his flesh rending.

Latyurik pushed the surprised and broken body of Vosque into the mud and howled over him. Howls matching his began to float down from Hollow-tree hall as the Gathering began. Latyurik continued to tear at Vosque until there was nothing left but pulp and blood seeping into the mire. When he was finished, Latyurik shifted into a coyote and made his way to the Gathering, seething all the while.

Far beneath the squat bulk of Hollow-tree Hall was a wide cavern. The floors were carved into rough rolls of granite and the walls into shelves and shallow chambers. There was a stage of sorts at the far end. All of these were normally empty except for the few predicted times a year, roughly twice a season, where they were host to the Wolfhelm's Gatherings.

It was a veritable bloodbath-orgy this night under Alune. Shifters pressed and jostled in the cramped space. They danced to rapid, deep drum-beats and wailing guitars played from the stage. Apothecaries wrought their skill in steaming tubs whose fumes wafted from the side-chambers, dulling pain and focus. Everything was wreathed in a haze of smoke.

Aeisha wore the mask of Geryulik, Canine spirit, tight over her muzzle to filter out the fog. She made her way through the crowd, going in no particular direction, but keeping her eyes open for trouble. Shifters in all manner of forms danced and flailed around her. Any that moved into her path were pushed roughly aside. She had no need to be gentle with them during the Gathering.

The mask she wore also served to stave off her needs for a time, being blessed with the shifter's simple cantrip magic abilities. Even still she felt a sort of urge to join in with the abandon and c*****e. Aeisha stopped to watch as a grouping of dancers fell mad upon each other. Claws and talons and fangs ran red with blood. The combatants cried out as they raged, and continued fighting, heedless of their wounds. A cougar-form shifter stumbled into her. It instinctively recognized her mask and halted its assault. Another shifter dragged it back into the brawl.

Aeisha moved on, ignoring lovers locked in passion, and moshes of rages alongside. So far she hadn't seen any violations of the rules in this Gathering, and she was beginning to get bored and frustrated. The ever-pounding beat shook her thoughts away from Keysean and the druid-girl then back again.

She was making her way toward the stage for a drink of water when a shifter tackled her. She struggled, surprised that someone would come against her, but for the moment was pinned to the rolling ground. Hands groped her, a tongue ran across the back of her neck. Finally she fought the shifter off balance and squirmed away. She dealt it a kick to the ribs as she rose to her feet, then stopped whilst readying another.

Latyurik growled and pushed himself up on all fours. Aeisha's hesitation gave him enough time to pounce on her again, this time from the front. He held her down with one hand and tried to force her legs apart. Aeisha dug her short claws into his stomach and lunged upward. Her jaws were around his throat before he could flinch.

Latyurik whimpered and allowed his eyes to loll senselessly in their sockets. Aeisha assumed he was over-come by his rage and slowly released her jaws. As soon as he was no longer threatened, Latyurik sliced Aeisha along the face and took off through the throng, leaving her lying mask less and stunned on the cavern floor.

---

Fear gripped him and put his heart into overdrive as he forced his way out of Hollow-tree Hall. He evaded the doormen in stealth-form and raced out past the battlements. Presently he sat curled up in front of the gates of Wolfhelm, breathing deep so as to regain his wits.

He realized what he had done and tried to do and wept under the grand light of Alune. Then as his tears ebbed, Latyurik remembered that he was all alone, and that nobody knew yet about Vosque. Smiling, he nodded to Ala'une and went to find his friend's body.

Vosque had healed much since Latyurik left him. Consciousness had recently returned to him. At first all Vosque could think about was finding Rik and getting revenge, but slowly he came to the rationale that his friend had simply overreacted and raged under Ala'une. He was trying to figure out how to deal with Latyurik under the current circumstances, when he heard something approaching.

"Rik, you f*****g asshole," he said, still unable to move.

"Hey V." Latyurik strolled calmly to him and knelt by his side. "You know, I'm not sorry at all. You're a piece of s**t to me."

"Dude, what the f**k are you-"

"I only got caught by those dog-catchers 'cause you and Hunt left me behind. You thought it was funny, didn't you."

"f**k you Rik. We didn't never want you around anyway." Vosque glared at Latyurik, inviting him to do what he would.

"You talk big, always did. And I was beating you at everything all the while." Latyurik shifted into war-form. He gnawed Vosque's head from his body then tore him apart, limb from limb. He scattered the parts in the marsh, then stirred the b****y earth to cover his tracks.

"I am Rik, buddy," he said to Vosque's head. "Born a man to my glory. Left an orphan to my strength. You will be the first of many to be punished. I will see your whole family rent apart!"

Latyurik howled with laughter and plotted out how he would achieve his purpose. He grinned to Alune and thanked her for the strength she gave, then raced through Wolfhelm with Vosque's head held firmly in his jaws.

So Aeisha didn't think him strong enough. The elders thought him stupid and without wisdom. But he would end the druid and return Keysean. Then no shifter could deny him.

Latyurik left Wolfhelm and headed for the Splitway. He avoided what gobold-kin he saw camped among the trees. When he was far enough away, he left Vosque's head in a ravine and found a safe place to rest for the night. He fell asleep with his eyes upon the stars, trying to find among them a constellation that could be called 'the Hero Rik'.