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Chapter 42 - Home

-W-

There was a sense of satisfaction that came with a successful hunt, of respect for the dangers but the pride at overcoming them. My neck and shoulder ached and bled. My arm was still singed, where the railway beast had attacked the demoncat and myself alike. Where it had burned the fur away from my flesh. A reminder of how little I knew of this world. Even still, I felt calm, I felt a sense of content and ease.

I sat with my human in the back of yet another metal creation, as our two new packmates seemed to lead the way home. We still had to get the cat back inside his realm.. Our realm. But for now I simply leaned back against the soft cushioned seat beside my human and watched him, watched his human friends, and listened as they joked and spoke amongst themselves. My nose crinkled some as I caught an odd smoky scent, nosing at my human to check if he too had gotten burned, but it just seemed to come from the odd, colorful and long cloth he'd wrapped around his neck.

My fingers curled into the bunched up blanket I'd been holding and passed it to him. He was grateful to warm up, cover up and snuggle up beneath it beside me. Rest now human, our journey runs easy. My chin came to rest on top of his head as we traveled. The 'car' carried us back towards the dimly lit graveyard of it's brothers where our journey had started.

"Thanks.. All three of you. I couldn't have done that alone.." My human spoke up, it sounded like he had something in his throat. His eyes were damp as he leaned into me, wiping his face in my fur.

"We're here for you, it doesn't matter if you are dealing with your mom's stuff.. or need help with some supernatural beast brigade. We're always here for ya" James looked back at the both of us in the reflective panel above his head.

"We're just happy you're alright. Made it out safe. I don't know what would have happened if we hadn't run into you. I guess it wouldn't have been as crazy of a night for us.." Joelle gave a little half hearted laugh and reached back to rub his legs, then mine.

Fatigue was beginning to set in, my limbs and eyes felt equally heavy. We were in a place where I could relax and calm myself, but I couldn't let myself rest yet. Not until the cat was safely back in our home, bound tight and held until he returned to our realm. However long that would take. My nostrils twitched a few times, catching a scent before I was even aware of something new in the car.

"C..connor! Your chest!" Joelle shouted out, pointing to the cloth draped around my human's neck and down his front.

It was lifting outwards, something was pushing it's way out of his chest and into that cloth. Both Connor and I reacted slowly, sluggishly. He seemed as confused as I was until recognition spilled across both our faces. His hands grabbed at the cloth, pulling it away and revealing something horrific.

"Oh god what is that..!" He was panicking, so was Joelle.

There was a warping face on his chest, a blob-like mass that split across it's middle to reveal rows of jagged teeth. It's flesh was black, like living tar, but already that was shifting and warping towards something more akin to stone and dirt. We had seen this creature's hand once before and it had nearly killed James. I lunged for my human's chest and dug my claws at the stone skin the monster now wore. My claws made a horrid noise against it, but the creature seemed uninjured.

Connor's instinct was to get away from it, to get it away from him.. but all that seemed to do was push it out further from him, exposing a long, ridge covered neck that snaked out into the car with us. It had no eyes.. just that gaping maw as it snapped at me. I couldn't seem to claw it's stone skin, but I could keep it from biting any of my humans. I grabbed hold of it in my paws and wrestled it's maw away. Keeping it from sinking those fangs into me, from biting Connor, letting it instead sink into the seat in front of me. It took a chunk right out of it right behind James' shoulder, causing him to yell out in shock.

"Jesus Christ!.. What is happening?!" He was desperately trying to keep the car under his control and angle our path out of the swarm of other cars traveling with us.

"Watch out!" Joelle warned me, as that long necked beast curled back on me to bite again.

Connor grabbed at it's neck, squeezing hard like he was trying to strangle the beast, but it was too rigid for that. It was living stone. Joelle fumbled with something in her hands before jabbing a black object at the creature's side, making a terrible and sharp noise that hurt my ears. The little blue glow on the end touched the stone and.. did nothing. She pulled back in shock as the beast lunged at her next in retaliation.

Throwing my full weight against the beast I managed to pin it down across Connor's lap, hoping those stone sharps all over it's neck didn't hurt him. The blanket cushioned it slightly at the very least. Connor grabbed hold of the blanket, trying to wrap up and subdue the beast. Maybe even blind it, though it did not appear to have eyes in the first place. Teeth tore into the cloth, shredding right through it with ease as I struggled to hold the creature at bay.

Then it began to shift again. That solid rock felt softer, stretchier, fleshy in my grasp. It gave it more room to turn and flex itself back towards me. I bit into it's neck, as it bit into mine. More teeth punctures adding to those already littering my flesh. More blood lost. How many more bites could my body withstand, I wondered? At least enough to protect my packmates. I tore at it's flesh as it did mine, only letting go as it let out a sharp and chilling screech.

Joelle's magic box. She'd attacked the creature again with it's flesh no longer stone. It's maw twisted open, drooling everywhere as it screamed out loud enough that I feared my ears would bleed as my neck did. Joelle was a brave human.. she did not pull back. Even as it struck at her again she thrust her hand forward and shoved the magic object into its mouth, hitting the soft tissue inside with that loud, crackling noise. It screeched and tore the box from her hand as it retreated back inside my poor human's chest.

Somehow, even in that vicious and aggressive display, he had not been harmed. His bare chest was devoid of injury. His bandage wrapped hand had gotten a little torn from grabbing that stony neck, but he seemed more in shock than harmed. Our gaze met and he could see my worry, reaching out slowly to touch my muzzle, to let me know he was okay.

"It.. it ate my taser." Joelle spoke out, flustered and panting.

"What?.. How? You mean.. it pulled it inside of me?" Connor touched his chest, staring at his pale skin, "But how? When my wolf got shot.. the bullet stayed out here.. things can't go in.."

"Evidently they can.." She stared at his chest with the same watchful eye we all had on it now.

"You guys okay back there?.. What the hell happened? That arm come back? Shit.. I'm trying to pull over but there's nowhere to pull off here"

"No, no it's okay.. keep driving. Just get us back to the parking lot. Fuck. This thing can just come out at any time. We need to get back quick and seal this thing in." Connor was entirely stern and serious, more than I had seen him before.

"You sure? Okay, hang on. Another two minutes, almost there. Jo, you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine, still shaking though.. What can we do to help Connor? How are we supposed to keep that thing from getting out?"

"I don't know, we have to get the cat to go back in. Then my wolf can block the 'door' again? I guess? I barely know how this works. Scratch that, I don't know how any of this works. I'm taking the fucking cat at it's word." I pulled my human close to me, trying to comfort him, to hold him, to protect him.

How could I protect him from something inside of him? He sank against me and looked out the window, waiting quietly for our destination. The whole pack was quiet as we arrived and moved over alongside Connor's car that he'd left. Many of the others in the stretch of black stone had woken from their graves to leave. There were hardly any left.

"Joelle, would you mind driving my car back with us? I don't want to risk that thing coming out while I'm driving."

"Sure thing hun, I'll meet you guys back at your place okay?"

More silence filled out the night as we crept our way back to Connor's home. The night was comforting to me, but the silence it brought seemed foreign.. Never had I experienced this level of calm in my glimpses of the human world. The pack got out of their cars as we returned home, the four of us carefully pulling the cat from the storage box in the back before I carried his struggling form back inside.

"Alright, put him in there on my bed and close the window, don't need him trying to inchworm his way out." Connor left us to set the feline on his bed while he put on some clothes.

"So.. Do you guys mind staying the night? Making sure this goes okay? I know it's a lot to ask, all of this has been more than a lot to ask. Asking for more on top of.." James cut him off.

"Dude, of course we'll stay. We'll take the living room and keep an eye on you. Make sure you are good. Not going to leave you to end this craziness alone. Or, I guess not alone, you've got uh… Your wolf there" He trailed off briefly searching his mind for my name.

My name? It was strange, I didn't have one like they did. Like even the cat did. I didn't know how to feel about that, certainly not a sense of loss. It was not something I lost, I simply never had it to begin with. It was normal to me. There was a slight sense of envy perhaps, to have an identity, did that start with something as simple as a name? They'd simply called me wolf until now. Much like I thought of them as just.. humans. But they each were more than that, so was I.

"Thanks.. There's extra pillows and blankets in the closet here.. I think I'm going to be spending the night sandwiched between these two.. or I guess the cat will be in the middle of the sandwich. I don't know how this is going to work admittedly…" Connor rubbed at his eyes and forward, trying to keep them from closing much like I was.

"And.. you think that's going to work on getting him to go back to.. wherever he came from" Joelle looked over towards the feline bound tight on the bed and sulking, her face shifting into a slight frown.

"It has to.. He has only two options. Stay tied up, or meld back into me to get away."

I moved over behind my human and held his shoulders, giving him a squeeze as he reached up to pat at one of my paws. My gaze hardly left the cat, keeping a close eye on him while the humans talked, but it was getting a bit hard to focus. My neck stung, my body ached. My shoulder felt like it was constantly being burned where my wound was. Joelle noticed the pain in my eyes and she moved over to the two of us.

"Here.. you guys relax, I'm going to take him to wash up okay? Figure out a game plan. We'll stay as long as you need. You, come on, let's look at that neck"

I was reluctant to leave the room, to leave the demoncat alone with them, but Joelle was very insistent. I do not believe she could be told 'No', even if I could speak. She led me into the room with the shower, my tail wagging a little as I recalled the joy that had come with sharing one with my human. She had me lean over the edge of the tub, taking the water hose and rinsing my neck fur, washing the blood away and checking on my wounds.

"He got you pretty good.. but I think most of these aren't too bad, not all that deep. I think your fur saved you there, you big fluffy boy you" She ruffled my neck fur a bit on the side opposite my many, many bites.

"Can't really bandage em all up without shaving you.. Don't think you want to look like the cat in there anyway. Be a shame to get rid of all this soft floof! This is gonna sting, hold still.. Just gonna dab ya real quick with this, make sure these don't get infected. Such a good boy" The way she spoke to me should feel a little insulting but.. my tail did move again. She was kind.

"Okay, let's dry you off, good as new. Mostly. I think you'll be okay, just take it easy.. no more fighting." Her arms slipped around my much larger frame, squeezing me before tugging me up to my feet.

When we returned to the bedroom, James and Connor were sitting beside the cat talking between themselves, maybe even talking to the beast.

"..gonna be able to sleep. Not with that thing waiting to get out."

"Well, if it tries to get out, it's going to have the cat in the way right? Hear that cat? If you don't go back, that asphyxiating asshole's going to be pretty much clawing it's way out. Right into you. I wouldn't go wasting any time. For your health as much as Connor's'' James threatened the feline a bit.

I liked James.

"Okay now, both of you.. Catch flies with honey not vinegar okay?.. Here, all of you, leave. Out. Now." His mate ordered us all out.

"What? Why?"

"Because I'm going to talk with him. I said out." She spoke sternly, but even as James protested he couldn't say no to her. I thought as much.

"Connor.. What's his name?"

"Uh, Nacho boat. No, Naco.. tilt?.. Nacayotl?.. You know I really don't think that it's a good idea to be alone.."

"Out"

The three of us looked between each other, then at her as she stared us down. A moment later we all began to shuffle out. She had powers. Maybe she could convince the cat. As we stepped out of the room she moved over to sit beside the demoncat on the bed, gently placing a hand on his leg as he lay there facing away from us. She flashed me a look and I ducked through the doorway to leave them be.

We waited rather impatiently in the main room. I tried to listen in and hear what they were saying but she was purposefully speaking softly.. and she must have closed the door. I growled softly under my breath, I did not trust this beast alone with my new packmate. Neither of the other males seemed to be happy with her being alone with him. James and Connor usually talked a lot between each other, but they were unsettlingly silent as we listened.

The moment we heard the door open the three of us were back in the hallway to make sure she was alright. She stood in the doorway, arms crossed as she looked between us.

"Naca and I talked a little. He agreed to consider it, but you have to bring him something to eat and drink. He.. doesn't want to go back to. But he also doesn't want to be your prisoner as he put it. He said his choices were between a jailer's cell or being bound in shackles."

"Wait, he said? As in, you freed his mouth?" Connor started to push past her but she stuck her arm in the way.

"Yes I did, and no he's not going to chew his way free. I trust him not to." She seemed convinced, but the rest of us weren't.

"Jo.. you can't trust anything he says.." James started, but she raised a finger up to interrupt him.

"He'll behave. Trust me. I trust him"

Connor and James both seemed upset, but they weren't going to change her mind. I wasn't going to take any chances, my focus was entirely on the demoncat, looking over Joelle as she stood in our way and keeping my eyes on the feline, listening for anything that might sound like he was trying to chew his way free. He was facing towards the window, looking out, unmoving.

"Fine.. Hey, big guy? Wait in there with him okay? I'll get him a meal. Oh, and I set up the couch for you two if you don't mind, I'd take it myself but uh.. well I think two monster sized beasts and one scrawny human won't quite fit.." Connor laughed softly, before heading to get our captive some food.

Joelle and James made their way past me to head back to the main room, leaving me alone with the cat. I stepped in slowly, circling the bed and standing by the wall as I watched him. He was just laying there quietly, staring out the window. Eventually he spoke up, calm and relaxed.

"You won, puppy. You caught me. Are you pleased? I suppose I shouldn't have underestimated you.. Such a good little guard dog for master." He taunted and sneered slightly before his face relaxed again. I gave him nothing in return, just letting him speak.

"You know.. I was out in the world and free for a time before this. The humans worshipped me. Groveled at my feet. They carved statues and built temples for me. You do not need to bind yourself to a single human's bidding."

My fur bristled up some as he tried to sway me.. to do what exactly? Turn against my human? Possibly. To leave my post. He seemed.. frightened, maybe. Saddened. Talking just to ward off the silence. Talking was not something I had quite figured out yet, I'm not sure I would have responded if I could. He continued anyway as I stared at him in silence.

"Think on it, dog. The freedom you hold now, you can always claim it back. Decide that you do not need to stay bound to some position you were created for. It is not some higher purpose.. You were created to guard a door and little else." He went quiet as Connor came back into the room.

He could try to seed doubt in the other's minds.. but it would not move me. Maybe I had been created for this and this alone. That did not make it any less important, nor did it make me some slave to a cause.

I have the freedom and will to choose, and I'm choosing to stay where I am needed.