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Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 45: A Moment For Life (Cody's Gift Part Seven)

Day 103 still continued

As I was waiting for the next part of the film to began. I heard a voice to my side. “So how have you been spending your day off pet?"

It was my mistress who had come back from her meeting. Which meant it was after 6 PM and she was home for the day.

“Mistress! Welcome home!" I said to my she beast. “I have been catching up on a little Counter Earth cinema."

The fierce ursine warrior looked at view screen as part seven of the film was loading.

“Cody's Gift, huh?" She asked.

I nodded.

“You couldn't have picked a better film."

I nodded again.

“That is one of the most beloved films. There are some that even think that it is the best film of all time. So did you figure out what the gift was?"

“Actually no mistress. I was just about to watch part seven."

“Oh you are at the end of the movie then!" She said sitting down on the sectional next to me.

I gave her such a look when she said that. “Hey! No spoilers!"

“Sorry pet. I won't spoil the rest of the film for you. I tell you what, let's watch the ending together. Besides it has been a long day and I would very much like to unwind- with you."

Apparently my she beast still felt badly about injuring me during our training this morning. Even though it was mostly my fault. So instead of having me make dinner- she brought it. She changed out of her chain-mail and I prepped our dinner. We both ate fish and chips as the movie resumed:

_Jacala arose from his sleeping bundle waking Myra and Cody. _

“Uncle what is wrong?" Myra asked.

“Don't you smell it?!" The brown wolf said to his niece.

Myra took a good whiff of the night air and bristled. “Slave hunters!" She growled.

Cody gasped. It looks like more hunters had come for him and Myra. Master Puma did indeed want them back and would not stop trying until he did.

“What do we do?" Cody asked scared.

“Deal with the problem! You two are to remain here and be quiet. I do not wish either of you to see what is to come." Jacala said leaving the hut.

Cody turned to Myra. “Huh?"

“There is going to be blood tonight kid and a lot of it. If Jacala sensed the intruders, then others have as well. I feel really, bad for the slave hunters." Myra said to the cat-boy.

“Uh, why?"

“They are already deceased, they just haven't realized it." The wolf-girl grumbled.

Hearing that Cody was scared but still curious. He grabbed Myra's paw, and pulled her to the doorway of the hut and watched as Jacala departed toward the center of the village. As he walked, he was joined by others from the tribe, a white wolf, a brown she wolf, a black wolf, then a grey all who had sensed the same thing. Daruka joined this growing mob at the center of the village. Together they walked toward the source of the scent to the south just outside the village's edge.

It was there that they found him, a slave hunter carrying a large club, and a even larger net. The hunter had tracked Myra and Cody to the Seonee's grounds.

“Only one?" The black wolf asked.

“There only needs to be one!" The grey wolf responded- “Look at him."

_The six wolves surrounded the intruder. As they did- they realized why he had come alone. This slave hunter was a very strong muscular rhino- his hide as black as the night. He looked to be quite formidable and did not need back up of any kind. _

_Daruka stepped in front of the pack members that had surrounded the rhino. _

“Why are you here stranger?" The Alpha wolf said to the slave hunter who was starting to realize maybe he should have brought back up.

“You know why wolf. I have come to collect those who have escaped from my employer and to punish the two that mortally wounded some comrades of mine weeks earlier." The he beast hissed.

“Those who you seek are members of this tribe and will not go with you willingly or otherwise." Jacala said.

“Your comrades who you seek to avenge, tried to return those of ours who had escaped and suffered the same fate you will on this night unless you abandon you quest now!" Daruka warned.

“You ignorant near naked natives would risk your lives to protect two escaped slaves?!" The rhino asked surprised.

“You would risk your life trying to recapture two escaped slaves?" Jacala countered.

Daruka addressed the hunter further. “Listen hunter- this is going to go very, very, very badly for you unless you tuck your tail between your legs now and run. You are in a unwinnable situation- this pack, my pack will kill if need be to protect our own and I do not want to shed blood needlessly. Do we understand each other?"

_“Let me under stand this. You wolves are going to give me a thrashing (giggle) and then kill me?! That is to laugh! Besides me give up to you bunch of barely verbal, naked doggies? I don't think so. I may not look like it- but I can handle myself quite well!" The he beast said raising his club. “Prepare for a beating!" _

“Hunter you are a fool!" Jacala interjected.

Daruka sighed. “Hunter I begged and begged you to save your life, to abandon your quest, but now it is too late."

_“I am going to beat you down woolfie!" The rhino said as he charged. _

He didn't get far. Jacala stepped into the path of the charging rhino and glared at him with those paralyzing blue eyes of his. The hunter stopped dead in his tracks unable to move.

_Daruka continued: _

“Your loved ones will not hear from you ever again or will anyone else for that matter. Your employer will never know what happened to you nor will anyone find your remains. Your life is now at end because of your stubbornness and pride. You will never again experience the wonders of this existence- the beauty of a sunrise, the feel of a cool breeze on a hot day, a refreshing swim in a warm lake or the joy of making love to a beautiful female."

_“Fool you have thrown your life away needlessly and for what?! Escaped slaves!" Jacala chided the captive rhino. _

“I was sure I could complete my mission." The rhino said slowly realizing he was totally utterly screwed. “Too confident! Please, spare me! I was arrogant! I am sorry!"

“Too little too late." Daruka said to the condemned rhino. “I will give you a moment to pray to what ever deity you serve. I will also give you a few moments more to pray to your ancestors- to inform them that you will be joining them- soon."

As Daruka said this, the four pack members that had surrounded the rhino lit eight torches and placed them in a circular pattern around themselves and the rhino. When they had completed that task they surrounded the rhino on all sides again- two behind him, one to his left, one to his right and Daruka and Jacala standing right in front of him.

Jalcala then approached the rhino. “Fool you have met your end at the paws of the Seonee Wolves of the Northern Forest. Any last words?!"

“Never heard of you mutts." The rhino said as he noticed the pack's Alpha raise his right paw.

_“There is a reason for that which you are about to see." Jacala said condescendingly to the rhino. “We don't take kindly to strangers, invaders or hunters who try to steal our young. The reason you haven't heard of us- is simple. Invaders, strangers or hunters who would do us harm are never heard from again." _

At that moment Daruka dropped his right paw. He and the four wolves surrounding the rhino then shifted into their were-forms right in front of him! The slave hunter soon completely understood what Jacala had meant. These ignorant, near naked natives were werewolves and he was as good as dead.

_Jacala gently turned the paralyzed rhino's head from right to left so he could get a good look at his executioners. The horrified rhino saw a white were and a grey were to his rear, a black were to his left and a brown were to his right- that one was a female. Jacala then directed the rhino's gaze back toward the front just in time to see him shift into his were-form next to his brother. _

_As the final moments of the rhino's life wore down he realized that the hulking muscular beasts surrounding him may have been smaller than he in size, but more than a match for him. He was finished. _

_As Jacala finished shifting he approached the slave hunter who cried like a newborn calf as he pleaded for his life. _

“Too late hunter!" The were-beast grumbled. “Now let's have a nice very loud death-cry from you- one that will echo throughout the woods!"

_Back at Jacala's hut Cody and Myra tried to listen to the confrontation they could hear some talking in the distance, but couldn't make out what was being said or see what was going on within the ring of torches outside the village. _

Just then they heard it. The sound of six wolves mauling someone or something. It was soon followed by a loud distressed bellowing sound.

“A bull?" Cody said to Myra when he heard it.

“No, a death cry- from a rhino?"

The death cry was followed by numerous very loud munching sounds. Then within the hour the munching sounds turned to groaning and belching like some pack members had feasted on something very large and now were sorely regretting it.

As soon as Myra recognized what was going on, she beaconed the cat-boy back to their sleeping bundle.

“Was that belching I heard?! What is going on out there? Cody asked.

“Some questions are best left unanswered Cody." Myra said. “The pack has protected us from our enemies this night. Let's leave it at that. The wolf-girl said as she cuddled the cat-boy.

“Um okay. What about Jacala?"

“I have a feeling he is going to be busy the rest of the night treating others for indigestion. We will have to wait until morning to see him and when we do I think he will be skipping breakfast, lunch and possibly dinner." Myra said.

“Eeeewww!!!" Cody said as he had realized what Myra was telling him. The pack had killed and devoured to protect both of them that night.

The Seonee wolves buried the inedible remains of the rhino along with his weapons in a small cave in the uplands. He was of course never heard from again.

In the morning Myra and Cody were awakened by were-Jacala.

_Upon seeing Jacala in his alternate form, Cody shrieked and hid behind Myra. _

_“Young one, it is me Jacala. No hug?" The brown werewolf teased. _

“Sorry, it is hard to hug you when you are dripping wet." Cody countered.

_“Sorry, I had to wash a lot of blood and other things from my fur. You do know Cody that with me in this form there is a lot more to hug." Jacala said teasing the kitten again. _

_Cody and Myra found some cloths and started to dry off the werewolf. Myra started at his back and Cody his front. While drying were-Jacala's strong broad shoulders and muscular frame, Myra purposely tugged on his white loin cloth dropping it to the floor of the hut! _

_Seeing the werewolf's perfectly chiseled butt, the she-wolf couldn't help but tweak it! Cody meanwhile just stared at the were-beast's testicles. Like the rest of the were-creature they were huge- the size of apples! _

_The cat-boy wondered if Jacala had ever had a mate or lover to put those to good use. His thoughts were interrupted by the commotion in front of him. _

“Myra!" Jacala said to his niece after she pinched his butt. You really need to get a boyfriend. How long has it been since Bala left?"

“Not long enough! And you should talk! You also need to find some one who will love and take care of you!" Myra countered.

“I do. You two." Jacala shot back looking at Cody who was just staring at his privates. “Uh, Cody I am more than capable of drying that area myself. Besides I have a job for the two of you. During our confrontation with the hunter, a few pack members received some cuts and they have become infected. I need the two of you to travel to the highlands and bring back some purple flowers to treat the infection."

“A trip?!" Cody asked. “Sounds like fun."

“What about you uncle?" Myra asked.

“I was up all night treating the wounded and did not get any rest. I will be sleeping most of the morning and awaiting your return."

Cody welcomed the change of pace after the intensive instruction he had received for the last several weeks. He and Myra set off for their morning trip right after breakfast.

“Wow!" The cat-boy remarked. “I didn't know that the highlands were so high!" As the two started climbing the hilly trail.

“Living in Friendship Settlement for most of your life has domesticated you too much!" The she-wolf teased. “The highlands are a natural boundary for our village. In a way it simplifies our defense; as there are only a few directions anyone can enter it and from up here you can see a beautiful view of the area."

_“So exactly where are these purple flowers?" _

“They normally are located all over the highlands. But since it is late fall, we will have to search to find them. It shouldn't be that hard though. If we were searching after the first frost it would be much harder." Myra said to Cody.

“So is it hard looking after the entire village?" The cat-boy asked the wolf-girl.

“At times it is since, it is just uncle and myself. Why? Are you thinking about following in our paw prints?"

“I would like that. Taking care of the injured and healing the sick." Cody responded. It is a great way to get to know everyone in the tribe. Speaking of the tribe, I know one of your uncles is the chief. Your other uncle is the shaman, what function did your parents perform in the wolf-pack?"

“Kira and Dira were warriors. My mother decided that she didn't want the lofty positions her brothers took. So she and my father decided to help protect the tribe." Myra said as they reached a plateau. “You know the rest."

“If they are warriors, I doubt any slave holder could control or imprison them." Cody said to the she-wolf."

“My uncles seemed to think so as well. But when they failed to make their way back to us. I decided to search myself. That was how I was captured and sold to that cougar. Ah there we are!" Myra said as they approached a plateau.

“It is beautiful!" The cat-boy said he ran into the open field. It was teaming with many plants and flowers. All oblivious to the late fall weather with the extreme temperatures.

_“Over there! Purple flowers." Myra said pointing to a patch that was seated by some vines. _

Cody eagerly started collecting the flowers. “I think we should collect as many as we can carry, we don't know if there will be any more this season- ouch!!" Cody screamed as one of the vines grasped and pricked him as if by magic.

Myra ran to him. “What's wrong?"

“I got pricked by that red vine! It was like it was moving!" Cody said looking at the cut the vine had made on his paw.

“Don't worry about it kid. Those vines are deadly to anyone that comes into contact with them. But we wolves are resistant to their spines and the poison they emit...."

“Myra, I don't feel so good!" Cody said collapsing. The vine that had pricked him immediately wrapped its self around the cat-boy's paw!

“Geez that's right! You are a wolf in name only. Uh Oh! Cody!“

Myra removed the vines from Cody's paw, picked him up and his flowers and started heading back toward her village as fast as she could go. Myra was able to get Cody back to the village and her uncle before mid afternoon. By then Cody was in terrible shape- he was burning up with fever and shaking badly.

“Am I going to be ok?" Cody asked Jacala and Myra- he was near delirious.

“You were attacked by a red vine." Jacala said looking at the cat-boy's paw. “It released a nasty toxin into your body...."

“There is a cure right?!" Cody moaned. “You have dealt with this thing before right?!"

Myra and Jacala looked at the ground of the hut.

_“We wolves are immune to the poison for some reason- it has never been an issue. So a cure was never sought." Jacala said solemnly. _

_“But we can make one right uncle?" Myra asked. _

“We could eventually but not before Cody succumbs to the poison." Jacala said.

“So I am going to die?" The cat-boy asked. “How long do I have?"

Jacala hugged the kitten. “I am sorry little one the poison is quite potent. You may only have to the end of the day maybe a bit longer...."

“I see." The cat-boy said realizing the severity of his condition. “Jacala, Myra. Thank you for your kindness and friendship. I love you both very much." Cody said as he closed his eyes.

_Myra gasped. _

“It is okay he just passed out." Jacala said to his niece.

“This is not happening uncle! It is not fair! For him to survive such hardship, such a horrible life only to be brought down by this?! This is not right! If he was one of us- he would have just received a rash!" Myra cried. “Uncle he can't die like this. We must save him! Some how!"

“But how?! If only he were one of us....." Jacala huffed. “If only he were a wolf...." __Jacala thought for a moment. “I have a solution!" He said turning to his niece.

“What is that?"

“We turn him. That is the only way he will survive this."

“But he will be enslaved to the moon; forced to transform every time it is full whether he wants to or not. He will lose control over his life. Myra declared.

“True, but he will still have his life." Jacala reminded his niece. "Get him ready. There is not much time."

Myra gently lowered the covers from the sleeping bundle exposing Cody's chest and shoulders. The cat-boy started shivering again; burning with fever.

“Cody." Myra said rubbing the cat-boy's head waking him. “There is a way to save you from the poison. But there are consequences. Costly consequences are you ready for that?"

The cat-boy nodded his head. Jacala and Myra couldn't be sure if he had given his approval to do whatever it was to save his life or was he just delirious?

Myra shifted into her were form. Jacala did the same.

“It is best that you go first." Jacala said to his niece. “If this works he will be sired to you, which would be for the best."

Were-Myra approached the stricken cat-boy kissing him on his forehead. “We are ready to begin Cody. This is going to hurt, but you will live." The werewolf rumbled softly.

“Just enough to break the skin, make him bleed and to leave a mark. Don't tear his arm off." Jacala warned his niece.

Myra ever so gently bit the cat-boy on his right shoulder- breaking the skin, causing him to bleed and leaving a pronounced bite mark. As soon as she had finished were-Jacala did the same to the left shoulder. Cody was too delirious to respond.

Jacala soon left to treat other pack members from the nights previous activities leaving his niece to watch over the cat-boy who passed out again shortly after being bit. Cody slept for the rest of the afternoon, evening and night.

The next morning Cody awoke to two very sore shoulders and Jacala and Myra hugging him like he was some plush toy doll.

“Morning Jacala, Myra." The cat-boy said to his wolf family.

“You made it!" Jacala and Myra said in unison.

“I am not sure how I did either, you both said I would be dead by the end of the day."

Jacala felt the boy's forehead. “The fever has broken and he is no longer shaking."

“Look at this!" Myra said examining Cody's paw. The scratches and cuts from the red vine have turned into a rash. That is a good sign."

“Um, yeah but why do I have bite marks on my shoulders?" The cat-boy asked.

“Um, about that Cody-" Jacala started. “The only way to save your life was to turn you into one of us."

“A wolf?! I thought I was one." Cody said.

“You were an honorary member of the pack; an honorary wolf. As of today you are a real wolf- rather a werewolf." Myra said gently.

“You have given me lycanthropy?"

“It was the only way to save your life." Young one." Jacala said.

“I am a going to turn into a werewolf like you?"

“Yes and no." Myra said hugging Cody. “My tribe can assume our were-forms at will (when on our ancestral land.) It is a defense we have developed through the generations. For you however, it will be a curse. You will only be able to shift under a full moon- and not at your own will."

“In the coming weeks we will prepare you for this." Jacala said to Cody. Your bite marks will also heal as the day approaches of your first transformation."

“At any rate the trio is going to be so jealous you learned to shift before they did!" Myra said to the shocked cat-boy who was more alarmed that he was a newborn werewolf than the fact that he cheated death.

_Over the next few weeks, Cody's thoughts were predominated by the fact that he was a werewolf. Those thoughts consumed him so much so that he was unable to really focus on his duties and studies. _

What would it be like to be a were-creature? Would he have complete control over his were-form like the members of the pack or be a mindless killing machine like the stories he had read when he was younger?

_“Cody? Cody?" _

“Uh what? Sorry I drifted off there for a minute." The cat-boy said while eating breakfast with Jacala and Myra one morning.

“You have been drifting in and out for the last few weeks." Myra countered. “ Ever since the day you were bitten."

“Myra, can't you see he is still worried about his first transformation? He has been for a while. Apparently we haven't done a good job preparing him for his 'first time'. Jacala said to his niece.

_“Jacala, has the tribe always had the ability to 'turn' others?" Cody asked the wolf shaman. _

“Yes young one. But only in our were-forms. In fact it is quite a restricted practice."

“Why is it restricted?" Cody asked.

“If we attack and bite someone in our were-forms, we are then forced to kill them. If they survived- they would become a newborn werewolf. Daruka doesn't want werewolves not related to the tribe or mutts created. It would create problems we can't begin to fathom. Such as new night creatures rummaging through forests attacking, killing anything in sight, creating more night creatures for instance or a formation of a tribe of mutts to challenge our own."

_“That is why we have to be very careful who we bite." Myra said as she reached for Cody's paw. _

“That is also why you didn't bite the slave hunters we escaped from! You didn't want to give them the curse either." Cody concluded.

Myra nodded. “I hope you are ready, tonight is the night of the full moon- it will be your first time."

“I think you should make the event special." Jacala said to his niece. “This evening take Cody to the bend in the Seonee river. You two can watch the moon rise over the forest from there. You can also comfort and help Cody through his transformation."

_“You won't be coming?" Myra asked her uncle. _

_“No dear, I will be busy here this evening tending to the sick and injured. Besides you created our little werewolf here he will be sired to you and you alone." The brown wolf said to his niece. _

“Uncle what do you mean sired?!" The wolf-girl asked.

“You will see." Jacala said with a smirk. “Now let's get the day started. We have some pack members to check on and Cody has cub sitting duty with Darza, Rala and Djala."

_“Cub sitting duty?!" The cat-boy said in shock. _

“Yes you have been added to the rotation. Cubs belong to the entire pack no matter who their parents are. The pack has a rotation for cub sitting which allows for parents to join hunts with other pack members instead of having to watch their young all the time. Besides, it will give you a chance to practice your language skills." Jacala said to Cody.

_So Cody spent his final day before his transformation cub sitting. _

“Nuts it looks like you got your were-form before we did as well." Darza said to the cat-boy.

“It was not by choice." Cody responded.

“It is indeed ironic that the only way to save your live was to curse it." Djala said as Rala played tag with three cubs in the distance.

“That is indeed ironic." Cody said to the two she wolves. “Darza, Djala what will I look like after the transformation? Will it hurt? What would it be like to be a werewolf?"

The two females shook their heads.

“Sorry Cody. I don't know- I have never fully shifted." The black she-wolf said.

“But you have been with Myra when she shifted." The brown she-wolf said.

Cody nodded. “I have been with her twice before- it was quite painful for her and she was glad when her transformation was over."

“I think you answered your own question then." Darza said to the cat-boy. “It will be painful and you will be glad it is over."

“You will also probably lose that scrawny butt, the thin wirely frame and add bulk and muscle too." Djala said looking over Cody. “I would like to see that. But what would it be like to be a werewolf? You will have to tell us that."

Cody looked at the ground as the two females said that.

“But cheer up, you will only be in that form two nights or three nights every month. The rest of the time you will be normal Cody Spencer." Darza said to him.

“Hey guys some help!!!" Rala said as he chased three cubs around the field they had been sitting in.

“Exactly why did they need the four of us to cub sit Reeza, Deeza and Meeya?" Cody asked the females

RAAAAARRRR!!!!! AUGH!!! GUOAH!!!!!

“That's why." Djala said to her friends.

Cody and Darza glanced to the field where Rala had been. The tan-brown wolf had been flattened by the three cubs who had shifted into their were-forms and um, piled on him literally.

“I think he needs some help." Cody said getting up.

“Agreed." Djala said.

_“Hey Reeza, Deeza and Meeya no piling on! Especially in your alternate forms!" Darza said to little weres. _

Morning and afternoon passed too soon. As evening turned to night Myra took Cody into the forest to the bend in the Seonee river.

“What do you think? The she-wolf asked as Cody took in the view.

“It is beautiful!" Cody said.

“We have a lovely view of the night sky and the forest. This area is also isolated; we will be alone. In fact we can spend the whole night here if you prefer." Myra said showing Cody a sleeping bundle she had brought.

“I would like that." Cody responded.

_“One more thing now. When you shift, I want to see a hunky stud of a wolf I can drool over until dawn. You know, something to light fire in my dreams for the rest of the fall, maybe even the winter!" Myra teased. _

_Seeing that her little joke received no traction from the nervous cat-boy. Myra continued. _

“It is almost time Cody you should remove your clothing- those pants and shirt I made for you."

“But won't I freeze without them?" Cody asked as he remembered what it was like wearing just a loin-cloth.

“You don't want to tear them during the shift- they would be damaged and torn. Besides in a moment you will forget completely about the cold night air." Myra said to the nervous cat-boy.

Cody removed his clothing and placed it in a neat pile on the ground. Myra got a great view of the naked adolescent cat-boy with the scrawny butt.

Myra sat down near the base of a tall tree along the shore of the river. She beaconed the now naked cat-boy to join her. Cody gingerly sat down between the wolf-girl's legs.

“Mmmm, like old times." The she-wolf said to Cody as he started to shiver. Now if I remember, we sat like this when you first saw me shift."

“It was the scariest moment of my life." Cody readily admitted. “Right now would be the second scariest."

“There is nothing you can do about it Cody." Myra said embracing the cat-boy. “No matter what you say, how much you beg, whine or plead, you will become a werewolf this night- whether you want to or not. Try to think of it as a bodily process- breathing, sleeping, sneezing, coughing, yawning, belching...."

“Urinating or defecating?" Cody interjected as the moon started to rise over the forest in front of them.

“Yeah those too- bodily processes we really have no control over. We do it because we have to. This is just another one." The she-wolf said as she grabbed both of Cody's paws studying them.

“Unnngh!!! I feel very, very warm!" Cody announced.

_Myra looked at Cody's paws. They had started growing, stretching and elongating. _

“It's beginning!"

“Now this is starting to get really interesting!!!" I said to Lady Ursa.

“Then let's put away the dishes and get comfortable pet. This is the best part of the movie. Well what I consider the best part of the film anyway." My she beast said.

To Be Continued.....

Next week the conclusion- to the current arc, to the movie, Alex's day off and some others he arrived at due to both.