Indelible {Kronas17 x CalamitousNag}

Sirris ran his fingers lazily through the curls of his hair, stretching it back out even as it attempted to curl in on itself. In truth, he was lying in wait. He forced himself to be disregard just how passive-aggressive he knew this behavior to be. Sirris was trying to get a rise out of him, damnit. To be the one to piss off the other. Countless times Uriah had provoked him. Sirris wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine.

Pointedly ignoring Uriah's jibe as to the emotional disposition of his kind, Sirris found he couldn't ignore the second provocation. Matter-of-factly, Sirris responded, "Is this the first time you've been outdoors, vampire? Sheltered away like some delicate glass object? It wouldn't surprise me. Animal though I may be..." Sirris flicked a casual glance over his shoulder before going back to stretching his hair, "At least I'm... living."

Okay, perhaps that was a bit too off-color.

Oh, how Sirris loved it.

The werewolf pointedly ignored the vampire but heard him enter the water behind him.

Hmph. Didn't take much. Sirris's smirk was vehement.

Just a few more steps and Sirris knew the vampire would be upon him. Several scenarios went through his head as he planned his next move. It was without a doubt that the vampire would get physical--violent, even. He mentally thought of the ways he could counter the attack when it came--and it would come--and found that he enjoyed each grisly detail of the vampire's demise.

But the attack never came.

Instead, Sirris felt a presence behind him; which unnerved him because he didn't perceive the body heat he'd usually expect from another creature standing so closely. It was rather off-putting. Feeling somone there and yet not. No wonder these creatures were as strong as they were.

And, yet, as soon as the lightest of touches brushed his ear, Sirris about jumped out of his skin.

So much for proper planning. He hadn't planned for this scenario.

If waking to the site of the vampire's face was bad enough, this was ten times worse. It was one hundred times more worse when Sirris found himself leaning into it.

This was an intimate action only observed between members of his clan--and for good reason.

A deep growl emitted from the werewolf as he moved into the press of skin (was it lips?) against his neck. He pushed back into the one behind him, seeking warmth and finding little.

'You should be more careful if it were anyone else... they would have taken a bite.'

"If only a bite were all, vampire," the werewolf said in a whoosh as he exhaled, head falling forward. Damnit. Of all things. Whether or not he knew it, Uriah had inadvertently calmed the werewolf.

And Sirris had inadvertently realized he wanted more of this. He missed mutual affection from his clanmembers--but when it came from an enemy?

The water lapped around him as the other moved away and Sirris was left with his hands in his hair. At Uriah's urging, Sirris rolled his eyes and dipped under the water once again. When he emerged, he shook himself to get the water out of his ears and walked back ashore.

He fastened his sandals but tossed his clothes over one shoulder. Walking past Uriah, he scaled the tree he'd rested in and retrieved his pack. Once he was back on the ground, Sirris gestured for the vampire to get going.

"Since you're in such a hurry."
 
Uriah paused from his reading to look towards the male, his brown eyes scanned Sirris once over before marking the page in his book and then dropping it back in his satchel before moving onward without a comment. It wasn't that he was so much in a hurry as he needed to move around and clear his mind. Staying stagnant got his thoughts going and then the images would flash back into his head and he'd get all worked up and the last thing he wanted was for Sirris to see him in that state. As they walked Uriah re opened his book and spent much more time immersed in his reading than really the woods around them, only glancing up every so often to make sure that they were heading in the right direction. After some time a sigh escaped his lips and he stopped closing the book he had finished. No matter how hard he tried to slow down his reading he ended up finishing the book in two days and he cursed under his breath for not bringing another.

Looking up at the sky Uriah rotated his neck side to side and then went back into his bag to pull out one of the maps that he had kept from the fight a day back. " We're making good time, better than I expected actually considering the delay" Uriah rolled back up the paper before looking Sirris with an blank expression, brown eyes locking in with crimson and then he broke the gaze rubbing the back of his neck and then bringing his hand up through his hair. Sirris was always so hot and cold with him, a scowl or harden expression on his face and the attitude that Uriah actually was getting used to believe it or not and more than anything he found it quite amusing.

" I hope your attitude isn't worse on the upcoming full moon" Uriah glanced over towards Sirris before shrugging slightly and then looking back in front of him, " But somehow I know that it will because it's you" A smirk formed just slightly before Uriah picked up and sturdy stick and moved up the small bend that gave them a decent view of the neck couple of yards. " We have about a little more than half the day before we should stop and let you do...whatever it is that you do" Uriah looked him up and down before plopping down on a sturdy rock and then tossing a small pebble in his direction just to tick him off. Uriah wouldn't say it out loud but he liked see Sirris all hot and bothered.

" Were still following the path of the stream so keep yourself hydrated and I'll do my best not to get under your skin....i'll try at least" As Uriah eyed the darker male he stood up and then walked over crouching in front of Sirris and then poked his nose. " Are you grumpy around your kind as well ? Or is it just me because if it is I must say I am honored" Uriah teased with a smile that he couldn't keep from forming on his lips. Seeing Sirris wriggle and squirm under his gaze did something to him,
 
...the full moon.
For once, it hadn't been at the forefront of his mind.
It was dangerous out here, away from his people and without anyone to warn him of the impending time. Sirris found it ironic that it took a non-lycan to remind him of his changing period.

Just thinking of the change made Sirris a bit more self-conscious though he strolled as naked as the day he was born anyway. The dappled sun that could be felt through the treetops was pleasant and grounding. Never the mind the gravity of the situation they were in.

Sirris turned slightly to eye Uriah. If the werewolf didn't know any better, the vampire was acting... fidgety. One moment he was stretching out his neck, the next he was rummaging through his sack.

And he was talking.

Something definitely was amiss.

"Perhaps," Sirris responded to the jibe thrown his way. "We can see that the full moon's onset has certainly made you more talkative." Feeling dry enough, Sirris pulled his tunic and pants off his shoulder and put them on. He pulled his thick hair out from under the collar and proceeded to braid it.

"Whatever it is that I do...? I thought that you were a hunter of our kind. You don't know by now?" Sirris quizzed with a sneer. He jumped back slightly when a rock whizzed past his leg and he growled, orange eyes narrowing. What was this creature's fixation with throwing things? He must have been horrendous as a child.

Sirris rolled his eyes.

"If this is your best effort, then I honestly worry what it'd be like if you weren't trying," the werewolf responded, crossing his arms when Uriah confronted him. He looked boredly past the vampire as the creature moved towards him and settled into a crouch before him.

Perhaps the vampire was relaxing around him. It's the only thing he could think of. While Sirris had been accused of letting his guard down, he couldn't help but wonder if Uriah had--perhaps, unknowingly--done the same. Sirris half-wondered if his own behavior had some bearing on the reactions he got from the vampire. It'd make sense. Sirris wasn't one to throw a bone, looking to start a friendly relationship. Mutual respect was enough for him.

That was until Uriah poked him in the nose. Human glamour or not, a canine's nose was sensitive and just because he was a bipedal one meant no different. His eyes watered and his face scrunched up maniacally.

Before he realized it, Sirris was shoving both arms out at Uriah's chest, disregarding just how close they were to the stream.

"That is enough!" Sirris barked. His fingers were arched like claws. He followed after Uriah, very close to leaping on the vampire.
The circular seal that lay against his neck momentarily pulsed and Sirris's visage physically wavered.
 
It all happened so fast. One minute his finger was on Sirris's nose and the next he was stumbling back. The force of the shove was strong but it was so unexpected that Uriah didn't regain his footing until he had traveled back quite a few feet and landed on his ass and he was wet. Again. Standing up his gaze dropped to his satchel that was now in the stream and his jaw clenched before retrieving his bag and meeting his hard gaze with crimson ones.

Sure he had teased Sirris before but he never seemed like he was close to snapping. Annoyed, sure but seeing the rage in his eyes made Uriah realize that he had indeed begun to slowly let his guard down and that was something he wasn't going to let happen again.

No matter what they would always be enemies. His coven against their pack and that was the way it was to be. The way it was always going to be.

Uriah dropped his gaze and crouched down to make sure that the contents were in the bag and after a few seconds he realized he was missing something. His small book. It wasn't that book he had been reading earlier but a small book tucked away at the bottom of his bag. Uriah would always carry it around because it was something of great importance to him. And it belonged to his mother.

He frantically pulled the contents of his bag out before cursing under his breath and then turning back to the stream. Uriah made his way into the water and looked down tot he bottom before reaching in and pulling out the small wet book. His fingers slowly opened the book to see the smeared writing before throwing it down near his bag and storming over to Sirris.

Fuck it full moon or not made no difference to Uriah at all, shit he had been calculating ways to kill the mutt since they started the journey to Viden and despite letting his guard down somewhat he still knew what it meant to be enemies. His eyes were no longer brown but complete black, his teeth barred and his hands went out to shove Sirris back with the same force if not slightly more.

" It's ruined" His voice rose as his heel dug into the dirt and his chest rose and fell despite having a heart the human body still mimicked human emotions. " That was all I had left" He was the first to move his body was swift as his hand lunged out and wrapped around the darker males throat. Yup he had pictured this many times over but for some reason there wasn't that same happy feeling along with it.

Uriah could feel Sirris's body heat the rage and those crimson eyes and damn he wanted a good fight. " It was all I had left of her" His grip tightened and after a few moments Uriah let go and stepped back. Guard still up he was ready for blows and this would be the first time he's fight a lycan on his own. Despite his eyes locked on Sirris his body moved back towards the small book and he bent down to pick it up, cursing under his breath he broke the gaze to stare at the small book. " I couldn't save her..........my mother".

He wasn't really expecting a response. Uriah picked up his bag and then headed up the hill and along the way. He needed distance from Sirris or one of them wouldn't be making it to Viden.

 
Sirris's eyes widened when the vampire landed in the creek. He froze in his progression, hands still raised like claws. The vampire hadn't been ready for it.

The vampire hadn't been ready for it.

What did that mean?

Something was off about that and a queasy feeling took root in his stomach. The unexpected feeling was soon blocked out, however, by survival instincts that quickly jumped to the forefront of his mind.

With acute gaze, Sirris watched as the vampire frantically searched through his satchel and ultimately turned back towards the stream. When Uriah had found what he'd been searching for, he turned towards him. When he turned, so, too, did Sirris know that the situation had turned as well.

Compared to his earlier sneers and growls, Sirris's posture was nothing like it had ever been. He crouched low and all of his teeth were bared. His humanoid ears twitched with an eagerness to flatten as Sirris went on the defensive.

"It's ruined."

A pale hand shot out and grabbed Sirris around his throat. Sirris turtled his neck on instinct but he couldn't deny he was caught off-guard by the direct physical assault.

This had never happened before. At the back of his mind, Sirris laughed; it was a wonder this hadn't happened sooner.
His hands flew up to grip the arm around his throat. Uriah was mouthing something but Sirris was too busy focused on the fact that the vampire was trying to kill him. Just as he almost breached the seal, he fell forward. Uriah had let go. Sirris crouched low to the ground, growling and on all fours. One hand now fisted the seal but he hesitated. Why the hell was he hesitating? The vampire had tried to kill him!

Uriah retrieved the item he'd fished from the river. His voice sounded broken to Sirris's ears, though Sirris failed to register the exact words. He could only sense the emotions rolling off the vampire that he was damn surprised to be able to feel.

Something about his mother?

When Uriah walked away, Sirris's ears twitched again in an attempt to perk up and track the vampire's movements. The further he got, the more Sirris had the increasing realization that Uriah might be abandoning this project.

Was this so? Was it as final as it seemed?

The diplomat in him finally found its voice once Sirris had settled down from attack mode.

"Are you abandoning this mission, vampire?" Sirris called after the retreating figure, his own voice hoarse. He swallowed. "The implications..."

But Sirris wasn't so sure the vampire would deign him a response. Swearing under his breath, Sirris shook his head ferociously and sat where he stood near the stream bed.

What would happen in Viden now? He'd as good as failed if the vampires were no longer on board. While his alpha had told him to play the situation by ear, Sirris knew that if the two of them didn't arrive together, it would essentially doom both of their clans. Together they stood a chance, but divided they would surely fall.

Sirris ran his fingers through the roots of his hair, messing the braid before growling out loud in frustration. His eyes found the sky and he realized that time was ticking away.

He looked back towards where the vampire had disappeared to. Though it hadn't been in the way he'd imagined it, they were at least separated for the change. Small fortunes, he surmised.

Though he didn't necessarily like the way it had happened.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, Sirris began to strip out of his clothes, folding them neatly and tucking them away in his bag. He managed to remove a belt that he could clip his axe onto--it was a miracle he hadn't lost it--and loosened it enough to sling across his torso with room to spare. Over it, he slung his pack.

Yes, it was best they were apart for this. Sirris slid his middle finger through the seal and broke the link.
 
He had told him. About his mother. Hands went up to his face in frustration as he picked up speed moving through the thick trees. What was wrong with him? He knew that something snapped when he saw his mother's book soaked to the bone and the writing on the pages damn near gone because of it and the more he thought about it the madder he became. But it was his fault and that's what he was more mad about but he felt something else. Disappointment. And he had allowed his enemy to see him weak.

Despite Sirris being the enemy the journey had made Uriah blind to a lot of things and he had let his guard down. He let it down and because of it the only thing he had left of his mother had been ruined. If he had a beating heat he was sure the heaviness would have made breathing increasingly difficult and the thoughts only trickled back into his mind to taunt him.

How could Uriah have been so dumb than to get comfortable around someone who could so easily kill him the moment they got the chance. Today had been proof of just that.

If his father had been around to see such things he would disown him and most likely kill Uriah himself for being such a embarrassment to the coven. He wouldn't allow himself to take part in feeling things that he had no right feeling and yet right now besides being pissed that the book was ruined he felt....hurt.

A frustrated groan escaped his lips as he slowed down and then made a complete stop. He wasn't, no he wouldn't let this lycan get under his skin and jeopardize everything his people had worked on. The peace treaty would help his people and he would see through with the task that was given to him. Uriah sat down on a tree stump and then rested his face in the palm of his hands before looking around him.

The day was quickly whisking away and then Uriah thought about Sirris before practically hitting himself in frustration. Why did he even care so much. Feelings were weak points and they left you blind to the advances of the enemy, all in which Uriah learned first hand, and it was something he wished he never had to experience himself. A part him wanted to continue venturing on but Uriah couldn't get his feet to trek on forward and instead he found himself heading back to where he had walked off from as night fell upon him.

Uriah knew better than to expect Sirris anywhere in sight it was a full moon now and he was mostly likely far from where they had stopped to rest. Climbing a tree he leaned his head along the base and stared up at the moon lost in his thoughts.



 
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The way the lycan sealing ring worked was simple and rudimentary magic. As long as the seal remained unbroken, it held the lycan's true form and allowed the owner to maintain a glamour. Once the seal was broken, the glamour disappeared and the true lycan was revealed.

To Sirris, it was a way for his people to pretend to be something they weren't. His clan--proud in spirit, as they were--hid their true selves for fear of being shamed for what they really were. Being in glamour didn't make Sirris perform any better, didn't make him smarter, didn't make him more civilized. Glamours just hid the truth of what he was.

And the full moon revealed that truth.

The pull of the full moon was the one thing that counteracted the effects of the sealing ring. If Sirris didn't relax into his true form willingly, it would violently consume him until he lost his rational mind to a frenzy. Not many had ever gone into a frenzy and returned to their normal selves. His people had just learned that it wasn't a risk worth taking.

Once the seal broke, the glamour faded and dark skin was replaced with midnight fur. Sirris fell forward as his muscles stretched and his bones relocated. His face lengthened into a snout and his ears moved to stand on top of his head. The process was grotesque. It was a few minutes before the lycan was fully himself again. The only thing that remained the same was his eerily orange eyes.

To with the transformation did Sirris lose his human tongue. His canine tongue could no longer form the words he'd spoken minutes earlier and rational, human-like judgment was superseded by primal instinct and emotion.

And, now, Sirris felt sad. There should be another scent, but it was only him and it was perplexing his wolf.

Sirris went on a rampage.

He tore open the boroughs of rabbits and feasted. He stripped the bark from trees and toppled saplings. He roared and cried into the oncoming night and was met with silence.

It frustrated him. He was calling for him. Why didn't he answer?

An overwhelming loneliness gripped him. It was why rogue lycans never survived for long. Beasts though they were, they were still pack animals that found value in the group and not in themselves. Alone they became easy targets, crazed and depressed.

Sirris finally slowed his destruction as he came to an open field far from the smell of water. The trees no longer blocked the moon and Sirris was transfixed. Something about the cool light calmed him though the melancholy rose. Tilting his head back, he cried out to the moon in a low howl.

The moon did not answer. Sirris was even more distressed.

Perhaps if he headed back to the smell of water, he could find him there.

It was several hours before Sirris finally made his way to the water.

That's when he sensed it. The hollow smell of wood ash and earth. And blood. Acrid blood.

Sirris went into high alert. Only one creature could carry this eclectic mix of scents. One that survived on the essence of the living, one that would be near undetectable if it weren't for the predacious foreboding presence it gave off.

Vampyre.

It was above him.

The young lycan thrashed through the trees and burst into the clearing alongside the water.

Sirris took in the scene with violent huffs, trying to detect where the vampyre lay.

There.

Sirris charged the tree, reared back on his hind legs and slammed into the trunk. His claws shredded the bark as he growled and lashed at the occupant hidden in its branches. Sirris let off a slew of curses, but it only came out as distorted yips and growls, a language that only his kind could speak.

Frustrated and pissed off, Sirris straddled the tree in a dog's attempt to climb.
 
As Uriah looked up into the night sky he wondered what would have become of him if his mother hadn't been slaughtered. Would they have left the main coven and ventured off into smaller groups over the hills? Would he have been more laid back and loving? Would his father have been happy or at least more affectionate? The constant questions he had no answers for and would never have, yet he still thought of them anyway.

The area was quiet except for the occasional crunching of leaves from small creatures and the rustling of leaves from the wind, nothing utterly important to make Uriah move from his position. More than anything Uriah found himself craving another book to read to keep him occupied from the midnight silence that engulfed him, he wanted to actually be around someone rather than be with his thoughts.

Back at the coven he wouldn't have cared if he saw another person for a week or so but now? Now he felt antsy and bored beyond belief. He would walk but the only place he needed to go was forward and yet everything that happened in the last few hours he found himself right back in the spot that lead him to leave in the first place. How ironic.

Uriah had half a mind to just close his eyes and rest, it was much needed after a stressful few hours but right when his body relaxed he could hear something coming. Towards him. Eyes shot open right when the tree shook on impact and Uriah stood from his spot to see a lycan at the bottom of the tree and crimson eyes gleaming in the night. Sirris.

So this was his werewolf form. Uriah looked him over briefly as his jaw clenched and he was on guard, eyes darkening by the second he watched as Sirris frantically attempted to scale the tree towards him and the only intention Uriah registered for it was hostile.

Watching the lycan's frantic attempt to get up the tree he jumped from the tree a few yards away and then rotated his shoulders locking on with Sirris. The wolf was frantic in movements but Uriah kept a calm composure because the last thing he needed was to we wary and end up decapitated. He made sure his back was close to a tree in case things got out of hand, then he'd scale up and leave the lycan to his yelps until morning.

Uriah's hands clenched and then un clenched as he waited for Sirris's move. His body was still in a silent storm. Waiting.


 
In his lycan form, Sirris's range of motion was minimized. What he would have scaled normally with ease, he had difficulty getting a foot hold to advance up the tree and to the creature above him. It was beyond frustrating. Sirris shouted slurs about the creature's cowardice as he shredded into the side of the tree. The wood whined and cracked as his sharp classes splintered it. Sirris gnashed his teeth through the bark as an ill replacement for what he wished to do.

That's when he noticed movement among the leaves before him. His ears stood erect as he heard the creature... Jump? It jumped!

Sirris spun around, frantic. A creature such as this had a means to kill him and he could not let the threat go ignored. It was either kill or be killed with the vampyre and Sirris would be no victim.

Now standing on his bi-pedal hind legs he reared back and roared into the night. Postulating, showing he had no fear what so ever.

When he dropped his snout and eyed his threat, a flash of recognition crossed his features. His ears moved to their highest position on top of his head as he looked this particular vampyre over. Yes, he smelled the same as the mortal enemies who wished harm on them, but this one he knew. The tall, bright-skinned creature seemed to be sizing him up as it--he--rotated his shoulders.

But he knew this one. Sirris did not take his eyes off the vampyre lest the creature feel threatened and tried to fight him. Even so, though, Sirris calmed his vocal threats as silence lapsed in the air.

'Where were you?' Sirris barked, a literal bark that if one listened closely, a feral language could be heard.

Cautiously, Sirris advanced on the vampyre, sniffing. The creature was at risk of attacking and he didn't want to set him off.

The lycan bared his fangs as he came to a standstill a few feet before the vampyre, just in case.

'Will you stay?' he intoned, his eyes piercing into that of the other. The vocalization was more a whine than anything else.
 
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Uriah kept his eyes trained on Sirris's lycan form as he thought of how stupid he was being for even staying on the ground for as long as he had. It had been any other vampyre they would have attacked by now, ruthless but poised in their ways and no stranger to the danger of their enemy. But Uriah? He still with his guard up hadn't made any moves towards the lycan in means of attack, his feet dug into the dirt in case of anything but other than that he was still.

He watched as the lycan approached him cautiously and that same frantic beast was no longer in such a hurry to get to him, much more patient and less hostile as his crimson eyes stayed locked with Uriah. So he recognized him. Uriah had no doubt in his mind if it had been any other lycan they wouldn't have been so cautious, their instincts would have them reeling over toward him in an attempt to kill.

Uriah watched as the space between the two got smaller and smaller until Sirris stopped and wined. He knew the lycan wasn't going to attack him by now so slowly he un clenched his hands and found himself taking a slow step forward with the same cautiousness Sirris had before crouching down so his black eyes were locked with crimson as they as they slowly took their normal brown.

" You're something else" Uriah mumbled almost to himself before slowly reaching out and letting his fingers glide through the soft furr. At this point he realized that there was indeed something wrong with him. His fingers continued to rake through his fur before leaning back along to tree for support as slowly letting out a quick breath.


 
When the feel of the vampyre's hand slid through his fur, Sirris vocalized his relief with a sigh. A shudder ran through the great beast.

'Uriah,' the name sprung to mind and he realized he'd found who he was looking for. Sirris was a little bit ticked that the creature had disappeared on him, but he also he felt as if he had done something wrong. Was he the cause of Uriah going away? Ashamed, Sirris tucked his head as Uriah's hand ran over him a second time. He pushed into the touch once before backing away.

His true form was a few inches taller than his glamour but Uriah still dwarfed him. The werewolf stood back and looked the vampire up and down, analyzing every detail. The look was at most curious but at times possessive. Sirris noted how the vampire had also transformed in their earlier confrontation and was now calming. His eyes had lightened. This was good.

At Uriah's forced breath, Sirris's ears perked again. Was the vampire distressed? The vampire had fallen back against the tree. Had he been injured while he was away?

Sirris stepped into the vampire's space once again and pushed his face into the space between the vampire's neck and shoulder. This close he could better tell how the vampire was feeling. He flicked a tongue out to lick there and attempted to nuzzle his head against the vampire's throat.

Satisfied with his own show of submission, Sirris stepped back and dropped to all fours. He crept toward the stream and dipped his head for a drink.

It was likely he wouldn't rest at all that night. He was unable to seek higher ground and he couldn't sleep for fear of leaving the vampire unprotected. Though they were the only large predators around, the full moon was visible to everyone. The chances that a turned lycan could happen upon them were very real and Sirris wanted to be ready for that threat.

Resigned to his duty, he sat on his haunches by the stream.
 
This was completely new to him. Being this close to a lycan in their true form and just do absolutely nothing. Sirris had moved back some and his crimson eyes took in Uriah's body. There was no snarl or growl or any signs of hostility but a look of curiosity. Sirris was completely calmed from the few moments before and Uriah had let himself relax fully as well, there was no need to be tense knowing that the lycan was not going to harm him. And yet once again he found himself trusting the one thing he knew he shouldn't. Blessed be the maker.

When the lycan rested his face in the crook of Uriah's neck his eyes widened in shock. It was indeed comforting. Feeling body heat against his skin that couldn't reciprocate the same. Brown eyes open even wider when he felt a large warm tongue lick his neck and then rest his head back in the same spot and Uriah realized that Sirris was showing signs of affection.

He found himself settling into the warmth of the Lycan before Sirris had moved away and he was replaced with the cool breeze and an small empty like feeling. He watched Sirris move down to the water before Uriah ran his fingers through his hair and looked up and the moon. He knew that lycans were pact like creatures and on full moons they always stuck together, he couldn't imagine how Sirris felt right now but at least he was here. That was at least something.

Since he no longer had a book to read because he finished it Uriah placed himself in a comfortable position against the tree and closed his his eyes to rest until daylight. Of course he could have took to higher ground but he knew Sirris wasn't capable of climbing up and he didn't want to leave him down on the ground by himself.

 
The night passed uneventfully--eerily so--as Sirris stood watch with narrowed eyes. Every so often he'd turn his large head and look at the other behind him, head tilting as he realized the vampire had closed his eyes to him.

The vampire felt safe. Sirris swelled with pride as he gazed into the night with confidence and bravado. He was capable of protecting his pack. This eased his earlier shame and worry.

Sirris had taken to grooming the fur on his forepaws when he could have swore he heard a distant howl. He leaped to his feet, his ears forward and his attention acute. Was it just one lycan or the one voice of many? He inspected it further. Could it have been a common wolf? Was he overreacting just because he had someone to protect?

The werewolf was about to spring off into the night when he remembered himself. His place was here, protecting his pack. He couldn't leave the creature and he really didn't wish to wake him either.

Fighting his territorial instinct, Sirris rose to his feet and padded over to the resting vampire. He kneeled down by him once he had gotten close enough. For a few hours more, Sirris kept watch from the vampire's side.

As the sky began to brighten, Sirris's mind cleared from the fog the full moon's pull had created. He was still in his true form and would remain so until the sun finally rose. He contemplated not enacting his glamour but he figured it'd be counterintuitive to their cause. How obvious and frightening would it be to see an upright-walking dog in the middle of day?

Sirris had better not cause them the trouble. He'd change back as soon as the vampire was ready to move.

Sirris found his mind going back to the midnight call he had heard before. Had it been another lycan? The trouble with his kind is that they rarely traveled alone. It wouldn't due for him and Uriah to run into a pack of freshly rejuvenated lycans the night after a full moon. On the other hand, if it was a lone, rogue lycan, they'd have a sure problem on their hands. Rogue lycans had a tendency to try to usurp control of a group.

On second thought, maybe they should get moving from this area as soon as possible.

Sirris turned his head to the vampire now at his side. He pulled back his lips, baring elongated canine teeth.

'Uriah,' Sirris growled. 'Uriah, we have to move," the werewolf emphasized though his thick canine tongue still prevented him from forming the words that Uriah would likely understand. 'Something is not right. I don't like it.' Sirris gazed into the trees before turning glowing eyes on the vampire.
 
Uriah quickly opened his eyes hearing a growl near his ear only to see Sirris still in his lycan form. And he was tense. His eyes followed Sirris's twoards the trees before a growl came from him and his crimson eyes sought Uriah's. Something was off and soon he was on his feet wiping the dirt from his clothes and reaching for his bag that he threw over his shoulder. It was evident in the lycan that there was some sort of potential danger nearby and watching his comrades movements he began moving.

His eyes looked all around them as they moved but so far there was nothing more than small to moderate prey moving through the trees and the sounds of early morning. Still he kept his eyes peeled and his guard was up. The last time they had been walking they encountered his kind and he wasn't hoping for another reunion of his kind. As the sun continued to peek through the trees Uriah was almost certain now that any eminent danger must have been in the other direction and they were well from it by now.

Oh the irony of speaking too soon.

Out the corner of his eye he saw a fast movement and Uriah stilled already on guard as his eyes looked in the trees for the figure that he had just seen. " Show yourself" The last time he uttered those words a fight ensued after it and Uriah was taking no chances with this one.

There was complete and utter silence for a few moments before the crunching of small branches caught his ear before the figure stepped forward. A woman. Her caramel skin complimented by the light as her long wavy brown hair fell to her lower back, and bright eyes similar to Sirris's looked back at him. The woman made no movements at first before reaching up to pull her hair into a ponytail with a hair tie though her eyes looked between Uriah then Sirris and back to Uriah. " What an unusual duo" her voice laced with amusement much to Uriah who didn't reciprocate only narrow his eyes as his hands clenched. " What do you want?"

" Nothing really just out here...strolling. I heard a howl during the full moon and I responded. Thought I'd head towards where I had heard it".

Her gaze turned to Sirris before bowing her head slightly. " Ah the son of the Alpha, heard great things about you......seems you found someone important to you". Her gaze shifted back to Uriah with slight confusion and curiosity but nothing other than that.

Uriah was silent looking between Sirris and then the woman who noticed his tenseness. " Relax vampyre I'm not going to attack, besides this one here would go for me the moment I turned. I'm Sage and it is nice to meet you both",
 
Relief flooded Sirris when Uriah rose upon his warning, 'unspoken' as it was. It meant that Uriah trusted his instincts; which was good considering they'd need to work together to prevent any more ambushes.

As Uriah began moving, Sirris hung back, ready to enact his glamour. Briefly, he considered if changing back was a wise decision--he might need full use of his jaws and muscles if they were to confront a group of lycans. Would it be worth the communication barrier if he couldn't convey his thoughts to Uriah? Shaking his head, Sirris brought the sealing ring to the thin gold chain around his neck. A small click could be heard as he withdrew his finger from the golden ring. The change was quick; the ring took on a coat of fur and human skin soon stretched across Sirris's bones. He shouldered off the pack still strapped to his back and removed his clothes. Next, he unfastened the belt that held his axe and relocated it around his hips. Dressed and ready for battle, Sirris jogged to get as close to the vampire as quickly as he could.

It was a while of walking in silence before the scenery around them was disturbed by a dart of movement. Sirris came to attention and Uriah stopped. Sirris found that not even a foot of distance stood between him and the vampire.

'Show yourself,' the vampire commanded. Not long after, a female emerged from the wood. If she was lycan as her scent claimed to be, she wasn't one he had ever seen before. She was a fair werewolf with long brown hair. She seemed totally at ease which struck Sirris as exceedingly strange.

Either she had briefly parted from her group or she traveled alone--neither of these scenarios would bode well for them.

Sirris went on the defensive, his distrust evident in his gaze and composure. He fought and suppressed a low growl when she commented on their pack. What business was it to her?

And why didn't he recognize her?

But she recognized him.

Sirris didn't hide the way his eyebrows crept up his forehead as she accurately pinned him as the son of Aroha. Should he know her? This was too coincidental, too sudden to sit well with the younger Fykos.

And he didn't like the way she looked between them either.

Sirris felt Uriah's gaze on him but he didn't look his way. He was afraid that Uriah may pick up on what the female was trying to insinuate.

She was just too composed for Sirris's liking. What female would boldly go towards the call of a lone male lycan? Sirris was getting the increasing suspicion that she may be rogue.

His thoughts drifted back to the silver knife that had been found on the bodies of the vampires. The thought alone made his hand tingle.

"Sage," Sirris nodded curtly as he made no attempt to hide his inspection of her. "Should I know you?" Sirris finally glanced at Uriah as he looked back to the female lycan, Sage. "He and I have banded together to hunt the two thieves who stole something from each of us," Sirris explained. It was a bold-faced lie, but if Sage really were someone from his clan, she would be no stranger to his and Uriah's expedition. It wasn't exactly a secret.

"Have you seen them? Two male parasites, one brawny, one lithe?" Sirris's left eye twitched subtly when he spoke the derogatory term, but he soldiered on. He had lost taste for it as soon as he'd learn the vampire's real name. "I sincerely hope you've escaped their notice."
 
Sage's light eyes held slight amusement at the male lycan's defensive nature and at his questions she shrugged slightly with a small huff. " I suppose not but I know my people, those who are important down to those easily forgotten". Uriah stood silent trying to read her motives and her intentions but they were clouded and that made him uneasy. Sure enough she didn't pose to be much of a threat but the worse ones were the ones that smiled in her face and strike when you least expected. Around a handful of people there was always a snake, you just had to weed them out.

At Sirris's statement about the two thieves Sage held his gaze long and hard, an eyebrow shot up slightly before looking between him and the vampire yet her face gave away no indications that she believed the statement or didn't, instead she slowly nodded her head looking over towards the direction that she had came from.

" Ah no I'm afraid I haven't and I don't think they saw me, if so I'm sure they wouldn't have hesitated to take my belongings. I wish to accompany you two towards Viden. That is where you are to meet the humans yes?" Sage smiled showing her white teeth.

Uriah tilted his head slightly, " So you know of our task"

Sage nodded and then took a few steps forward towards the two males. " I have some business there and I'm heading there alone because my group didn't want to be around the humans with tensions running a muck, I on the other hand could care less"

Uriah was still skeptical and he glanced over in Sirris' direction to see his reaction to all this before Sage extended a hand in his direction. " I promise I won't bite...unless you're into that' her voice teasing and Uriah eyed her for a moment before slowly lifting his hand up to shake hers. Of course he wasn't all excited for the idea, being around one lycan was enough but two? Sage seemed content turning towards the direction they were walking and starting up while Uriah kept back looking at Sirris. " I don't trust her fully but for now I don't think she poses as a threat either".
 
Sirris sneered at Sage's not-so-subtle jab about the royal family. Did she dare to imply they had outgrown their humility? Elevated though they were, the Fykos family didn't pride themselves as being any better than the other lycans in the clan. Sirris knew his clan members! He wasn't so removed from reality to not recognize their faces!

While he was sure it was only a mean-spirited tease, a seed of doubt wormed his way into his heart. Is this how his clan viewed their family? That coupled with her hard gaze at his lie was enough to momentarily quiet the male.

Sirris bit the inside of his lip as soon as she mentioned Viden. She was quick, strategic. Sirris didn't trust her--but he couldn't deny the small inkling of pride he felt at such a strong lycan female.

Shaking the unwanted feeling from his mind, Sirris tried to gauge Uriah's reaction to the other werewolf. Uriah had been so distrustful of him at the beginning and now he seemed to be talking to the female with ease. Had Uriah become tolerant of the lycans?

Sirris wasn't so sure this was a good turn of events. While his people were usually trustworthy and forthright, there were some bad apples among them. It was only natural that this was so.

Sirris watched as Uriah cautiously took the female's hand. The handshake was a forthright, lycan greeting that meant the two exchanging hands accepted each other without prejudice.

It didn't come as a complete surprise when she neglected to offer Sirris her hand, but it was a shock and an affront nonetheless. Sirris failed to hold back his growl when she teased Uriah, not particularly liking her tone.

When Uriah addressed him, Sirris bit out a response from the corner of his mouth. "What is your criteria for a threat, vampire?" Sirris hissed, his movements jerky as he fell in step. He gave Uriah a hard look before directing his attention to the female who had forcefully joined them.

"You seem well-versed in our own mission; it seems only fair if we knew a bit about your own. What takes you to Viden? It doesn't exactly strike me as a town open and welcoming to lycan visitors."
 
Uriah kept his eyes on the center of Sage's back all while she hummed some tune to herself, seeming un bothered by the somewhat tense aura around her. At Sirris's question Sage slowed down and turned her head back to look at the lycan. " I'm traveling to Viden because I'm looking for a man that goes by Yousef. There is something I must ask him". That was all she said before continuing her pace.

The vampyre knew Sirris was tense and wary of Sage's presence and he couldn't lie and say that he wasn't either but Sage was just so....un bothered. What was his criteria of a threat? The two idiots that tried to face them and fail, and anyone else that posed as an immediate threat and although Uriah was guarded there was no threat at the moment.

The next few questions that fell into Uriah's mind was: Had she been tailing them the whole time? Was she really on her way to Viden or was this just a trap, a diversion? Her questions held a strong assurance that much he picked up on but wasn't getting comfortable, not with her.

Sage stopped and turned to Uriah after a few moments. " Soooooo"
" Uriah'
" Ah Uriah, what of our kind do you think now? Still raging creatures? Or are you more tolerant being around one for as long as you have?".

Uriah scoffed and made a small face. " Lycans are still my people's sworn enemy as I am yours. What I feel for your kind means nothing. I tolerate Sirris because we have a task at hand and I haven't killed you yet because you haven't given me reason to. Simple". The question had indeed caught him by surprise and he answered it as vaguely as he could without saying too much.

Sage's light eyes pierced Uriah's before a smirk formed on her lips and a nod followed suit. " I see. And what about you Sirris do you just...tolerate this vampyres presence?".
 
'Yousef?'

This was getting too strange to sit right with Sirris. It was the early 1900s, surely even Viden had postal services--couldn't she write this Yousef a letter? Why travel so far just to ask him a question?

Perturbed, Sirris shook his head. What was keeping him from attacking the strange newcomer? Was it because they shared a similar bloodline?

That was most definitely it. If news got back to his people that Sirris had attacked an innocent female lycan, he'd no longer have a place in the pack. The elder Lady Sarca would see to it personally.

He'd have to wait until she incriminated herself. Depending on her intent, he may be waiting for long.

Sirris watched with guarded curiosity as she addressed Uriah directly. He wasn't expecting the question she posed him.

And, damnit, if he was honest, he hadn't been prepared for Uriah's answer either. Sure, it was part of the front they were putting on but...

How was Sirris so certain it was a front? Was Uriah simply 'tolerating' him? He spoke the words so easily.

Unconsciously, Sirris stopped walking.

When had they ever not been tolerating each other?

The werewolf could practically feel his face flush. That was a disturbing line of thought. He resumed walking as quickly as he could, knowing full well that being around two sensitive individuals they would have perceived his falter.

The male's self-consciousness was so strong he answered Sage's question with more bite than he had intended.

But not before he first answered her with a prolonged bit of silence.

"You seem oddly concerned with the thoughts of others, Lady Sage. Are you playing the role of mediator? Let me guess, the elders sent you," Sirris replied sarcastically, a malicious smirk on his face.

Honestly. If this female lycan was truly an innocent party and Sirris was being such a rueful bastard towards her, he wasn't sure he'd be able to forgive himself. What reason did he have to be defensive?

And, yet, what reason did he have not to be?

"Uriah, remind me again. You once took this path many years ago, if I remember correctly. Do you remember encountering humans then?"
 
Sage was teasing them with simple banter as she found it quite amusing to see them both tense up, their gazes uncomfortable and skeptical. She could feel the male lycan's hard gaze at her answer but she wasn't going to give him anything else on the matter, at least not right away.

Her eyebrows raised in amusement at his remark thrown her way. " The elders sent me? Now that's cute. No I'm simply asking because I find it a good thing that our people of our kind and Uriah's can actually get along without tearing one apart. Too much blood shed going on right now".

Uriah gave a stiff nod at Sirris's question, thinking back to when he was younger and his family had traveled out there. " When we took the trail there was only one human encounter and it was a bit closer to the city than we are now. I'd say a day's walk".

Sage hummed adjusted the small bag on her back, bending down to pick up a sturdy stick she marked a few trees along the way and then scribbled things in the dirt.

" So Sage...is your pack going to come looking for you" Uriah questioned as he kept his gaze forward.

" Nah., I told them when I find Yousef and get the answers I want then I'd find them".

The evening sun beamed down on them and Uriah felt his upper lip twitch as his fangs slowly extended down making his lower lip bleed. He was getting hungry. " I think here's good for a small rest". Uriah could feel his eyes darkening and dropping his satchel against a thick tree he looked over at Sirris. " I need to feed but don't worry this time I'll bring you back food...scouts honor" He teased with a small smirk on his lips before disappearing in the woods to find a kill.

Sage had quietly sat down in the grass fixing her hair into two braids as she eyed Sirris with a smirk and then closed her eyes to rest. " He's a good one....for a vampyre. I'd sure as hell keep him around me".
 
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