The Gathering of Forces {Were Plot}

[Wulfgar Fenrisulfr]

I'm so sick of this tombstone mentality
If there's an afterlife then it'll set you free
But I'm not gonna part the seas
You're a self-fulfilling prophecy
You think that by crying to me
Looking so sorry that I'm gonna believe
You've been infected by a social disease
Well, then take your medicine
I created the sound of madness, wrote the book on pain
Somehow I'm still here to explain
That the darkest hour never comes in the night
You can sleep with a gun
When you gonna wake up and fight for yourself?

And so the time of war had come.

The men, women and beasts gathered in the great hall of the mansion might have come from different avenues in life but they all had one common goal. The survival of their kind and the thirst for revenge. When the call had gone out among the clans and individual messages sent, it had been answered in full force. Although all had hope to avoid this occurrence, there was no doubt that when push came to shove... They would stand behind those that they'd chosen to lead their kind.

From inside the darkened office, Wulfgar Fenrisulfr stood motionless before the huge bay windows. Around him gathered his most trusted friends and warriors. The silence that they all shared was more speaking than any threat of violence. There wasn't a man in the room that wasn't coiled for action and Wulf knew he had only to give the command and they were ready to go. No doubt, some of them wouldn't return this night but that was the way of their kind, right?

Sighing, Wulf turned and gazed at his loyal friends and gave them a nod. The moment was fast approaching and he had one thing yet to see to. Striding away from the window, the huge Scot moved to a picture and pulled it aside. He heard Brom's inward draw of breath and then felt Eriks awareness peek. They knew what he was about.

Something that hadn't been done in ages. Not since the last war between the species.

Underneath the frame of the picture, a safe was revealed that he quickly spun and opened. No longer dressed in his modern garb, the ancient warrior had chosen to dress in fighting leathers and now took out the most prized possession of his line. As the rays of fading sunlight from the window caressed it, an amazing torque of gold was revealed and seemed to glitter with unnatural light.

With a reverent touch, Wulf lifted it and slid it onto his own neck where it rested protectively. Although it hadn't been wore in what seemed like forever, it warmed and shimmered with magic as it molded to his flesh with an ease that made him feel as if he'd never taken it off. The torque had been passed down through his family since the beginning of the ages and had been worn in every major battle of his clan.

Tonight, it would serve once more and it seemed glad to do it.

When Wulfgar turned back to the others, the modern businessman was gone and in his place stood the savage war lord of old. Another reach into the safe and he was pulling out a thing of paint that he used on his face before tossing to the others.

"Tonight we kill those who would attack our women and betray us. Tonight... We show no mercy."

Then, turning on his heel, he strode towards the office door and outside into the great hall. As he did so, a hush fell over the others gathered and they turned as one. His swirling blue gaze went over them all and then he gave them a nod.

"Thank you for coming, my brothers, comrades and friends.I would much rather have avoided this but the one called Dominic crossed the line when he took my sister and almost killed a human under my protect. He will not rest until we are all destroyed or the human race is annihilated so he must be put down like the rabid animal he is...He and all his followers." he said coldly, with grim determination.

Raising his voice a bit higher over the mumble of agreement, the ancient shifter let his anger rattle the rooftops.

"TONIGHT WE FIGHT WELL AND WE BRING AN END TO HIS REIGN OF TERROR!"

[Banning Vuldanshe]

I was blindfolded, but now I'm seeing
My mind was closing, now I'm believing
I finally know just what it means to let someone in
To see the side of me that no one does or ever will
So if your ever lost and find yourself all alone
I'd search forever just to bring you home,
Here and now this I vow



With a growl, Banning paced in the wide confines of the Shifter King’s study. His skin felt too tight, every muscle in his body practically vibrating with the need to move. As the others spoke amongst themselves, he kept to the edge of the group, pacing while a voice in his head screamed.

His mate had been taken by a Were with dreams of glory. For a moment, as he gritted his teeth against the wolfish howl clawed at his throat, he couldn’t help but force out a strained chuckle. Of all the women in the world, his Kaera had to have attracted such unwanted attention.

Only his beautiful, caring, gentle mate, with that big, loving heart of hers. GODS, if he lost her as he had for so many damn centuries…

With a severe shake of his head, Banning stopped by the window, pressing his forehead to the glass. If it wasn’t for the constant glare of the skinwalker near the door, who was as formidable as he was in full berserker mode, he would be on the streets right now. Ever so slowly, he was regaining his memories and learning about this new world of theirs, so he was still a little slow on the uptake…

But he didn’t need any of that to recognize the instinctual, primitive need to protect what was his. Kaera was his MATE; the other half of his soul. He couldn’t remember how he’d come back to her, but that was all immaterial. What mattered was that balmy feeling of love and contentment when he was around her, and the murderous rage that consumed him when he thought of her being harmed in any way.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as an image of her in pain surged into his head. He gripped the window sides until they cracked beneath his hands, doing his best to stay calm and stave off the berserker. He’d already torn up his bedroom and the basement before the others could calm him down. He wouldn’t do so to his brother’s study, especially not when he was planning Kaera’s rescue.

…Something that Banning, as her mate, should be doing, he thought bitterly. But, with his lack of knowledge about the world and the fact that his brain was like swiss cheese half the time, he knew that he wasn’t up to the task.

That, and the fact that the Wulf from the few memories he’d regained had become a bit of a Power in this world. By the way the others looked up to him, nodded their heads and jumped at his command, he knew that his brother shifter had indeed grown into the ruler that he’d always known he would become.

It was almost a homecoming, when Wulf turned, revealing a war paint-tainted face. He’d seen the anger in his face before, he realized with a start. Half in a daze, Banning accepted the little canister of paint, transferring it to his own in a way that his fingers seemed to recognize. Before long, he was standing before the shifter with the others, shoulder to shoulder with Brom, looking up at the larger man with a murderous intent clearly written on his face.

If any harm was to come of his Kaera, this world would know death unlike it had ever known before. Along with everyone else, Banning tilted his head back to join in the war cry that echoed through the halls, feeling that familiar jolt of camaraderie standing so close to strangers.

As the others began to move out, he went over to Wulf, pain, anger and respect warring for dominance in his face.
“We will find her,” He said, voice hoarse from all those hours in the basement, screaming off the berserker. “But I respectfully request the Were’s head when we do, brother. I will present it to you and Kaera in the old way…but I want his blood for taking her.”

[Brom Fenrisulfr]

Negotiations breaking down
See those leaders start to frown
It's sword and gun day
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late

History was a funny thing. Mortals had it right when they spoke of those who didn’t learn from it, being bound to repeat it. Hell, even those who DID learn from it ended up going through the same phases time and time again. It never really seemed to matter how much time had gone by between the events. A person just seemed to naturally slip back into the parts they played.

Such was the case this evening.

From his position guarding the door, Brom watched his older brother as he gaze out of the window and exchanged a worried glance with Ty. Shit was hitting the fan but Wulf hadn’t lost control since that first phone call from Draven. Brom himself was having trouble keep ahold of his rioting emotions so he could only imagine the stiff hold his elder sibling had. A glance at Banning showed that the other male was barely holding it together and Brom knew that it would only take one false move to send him over the edge of insanity. Between them all, they were loose cannons just waiting to explode.

Kaera was the pride of their house. The last female of their line and the last of the royal line of purebred wolf shifters. If anything happened to her… None of them would give a shit what happened to the world. The berserker blood would be to thick to hold inward and the blood of many would bathe the soil. Once the blood thirsty monster inside was released in them all…. The world would know the true nature of the beast they teased.

Well, except for Wulf…. A certain goddess that had been seen in the Vikings presence so if it all went south, that might be his only saving grace. In that, the younger Fenrisulfr was grateful. Ty, too, had a safety net but Brom couldn’t contemplate the loss of his sister. He suspected that if the were’s had harmed their princess in any fatal manner…. neither he nor Banning would stop until they were all dead or until they themselves were brought down in the manner of true warriors.

That was just how they had been brought up.

Suddenly, Brom became aware of Wulf moving across the room and opening a panel. Inhaling inwardly, he glanced at Erik and saw the same satisfaction in the Celt’s glimmering blue eyes. Oh yes, like times of old when they had bonded together… Wulf was taking up the mantle he’d been born to assume. The diplomate was laid aside in favor of the warriors they all were to their cores.

Oh yeah.. Who the hell wanted to live forever when you could go out in a blaze of glory?

As Banning was the first to take the offered warpaint of their clab, Brom bumped shoulders with his old friend to show his support. When it was passed around and they were all adorned in their unique masks, they turned as one towards the doors and a loud battle cry rang out. The rafters shook with their determination and when Banning spoke to Wulf in his hoarse voice, Brom was not surprised to see the answering nod or the hand Wulf placed on the other warriors shoulder.

“It it your right, brother… The blood of the usurper shall be yours to claim… I will stand at your back as we did so long ago.”came his answering words to the man who was their brother in all ways but blood.

From his right, Erik shuffled a bit and the dark haired sibling saw the huge blond looking around. No doubt for his woman who was ever present at his side in all things. Damn, how the mighty had fallen. In all honesty though… It was good to see the cursed warrior happy. It seemed a rare thing for one of their kind.

[Mercedes Rowe]

Inside the great hall of the mansion stood Mercedes, among many other shifters. She had talked to Caleb, expressed her need to help her fellow werewolves. That’s exactly why she was here. By doing this she hoped to gain their trust as well. She knew that she hadn’t gained it from them all, only a couple of them or she hoped she had.

Her arms were crossed across her chest, her eyes distant as she went into thought. She had harmed and fought in her wolf form, but it had been in the beginning when she didn’t know how to control the beast. She remembered the feeling after. It had been horrible, but those were innocent people. This was…different. She didn’t see how this could fall under the same category.

So, here she was, amidst the crowd, the lawful good doctor that would do anything to save someone’s life. Her hazel eyes darted towards the door where a war cry erupted from the belly of the wolves. The wolf in her slammed against its cage, ready for what was to come.

A hush fell over all within the great hall as Wulf stepped into the room. She had met him earlier in the hospital, she could smell the distrust he had for her, but she knew everyone, even her, had some distrust for people until they could prove it differently.

She didn’t know his sister had been taken. A frown crossed her face when she heard this news. This was far worse than she had expected. She thought it was all for what they had done to Ashling, but now…this. They had gone after these two women, these women that were in some way associated with these wolves. They were out to start a war. If it’s a war they wanted, well, it was a war they were going to get.

Mercy had been a were for many years now. She was strong enough that she knew she could handle her own or so she hoped. She didn’t know what the other werewolves, the ones they were going against, were capable of. She did not hide the fear that came across her face when she thought they might possibly have silver, though she hoped it didn’t come down to that.

As the other two followed Wulf out she looked from one war painted face to another. They looked ready for revenge. She felt her own beast rising up. It acknowledged these wolves standing before her as the dominant ones. This was going to be one hell of a night. She hoped they all lived to tell the tale.

Then her thoughts moved over to the man she had become so recently interested in. She hoped that if something was to happen to her that Lucien understood why she had done what she had done. It was something she had to do. Wolves stuck together. This was what they were all here for, to fight as one. She would do whatever needed to help bring Wulf’s sister home.

[cal]

Deep inside Caleb could feel the savage anger that fueled the beast within the depths of his cursed soul, he didn't fight against it, but instead welcomed it. It lusted for blood and hungered for vengeance against those who had dared to hurt Ash, those who dared to spread into her veins the same vicious curse that lurked in him.

And here he was, a sort of outcast. Many of his own race regarded him as a traitor, a servant of the shifters. He really never had the patience to bother to explain his actions, nor did he give a damn to what the others thought. But amongst these shifters he could also pick up the distrust behind some of their eyes. A few of them made no discernment between who he was and the enemy they were about to face and looked at him with a scowl in their faces.

Well, screw them.

When two of those big and burly shifters stood into his path, their sheer height towering over his short size and the menacing look in their faces that was more than enough to send many hardened men running for the hills, Caleb stood his ground and showed no sign of fear. His growl at them had the pair stepping aside and allowing him passage. The entire room turned to see the little wolf, but no one dared to make a move against him. There was a certain confident madness in his eyes that kept them on edge and none was willing to test it.

Caleb never had much patience for waiting and for meetings. His time amongst the Dogs of War had shaped much of his personality and even that he wasn’t an evil bastard any longer, that feral part of him was still as untamed as ever.

He knew where the bastards had taken Kaera, stayed against the wind and got a good sniff. It would be tricky and many wouldn’t come back, but they had a shot in.

Giving a look towards the doctor, he was surprised to see her standing there. She had guts, he would give her that. There weren’t many who would have the nerve to stand against their own kind and possibly be deemed a pariah because of it. That is, if they survived in one piece after this day was through. Whoever had started this war might be insane but was no fool, the battle would be a fierce one and there was no guarantee of victory.

All the better, he was itching for a decent fight on an epic scale.

When the warcry broke up, Caleb was unphased and turned to see Wulf entering the room. Cocking his head slightly to the side he faced the Scottish warrior for a second.

“If you guys are done playing make-up party, I’m ready to roll.”

[ross]

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb
Without a soul, my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

[/size]


It had been like an itch she couldn't scratch, that feeling down in the base of her spine that tingled and trickled up along the nerve endings as she stared at the wedding reception she'd been hired to plan. Everything was working beautifully and the people she'd hired were excellent in their job.

So why was it that she felt this nagging sense that she was missing something? That something was just on the edge of her consciousness as she sat in the white wicker chair and twirled a stem of a flower as she stared off into space, turning her thoughts and senses inward to seek the path of this feeling.

Was this what the mortals felt?, she wondered as she bit her bottom lip. What a truly horrible way to go through time!

It was...coming from..her heart? Tilting her head confused at the new feeling she frowned even deeper, a rare sight on the frivolous little Grace. How many hundreds of years had it been since she'd truly frowned? She couldn't even recall.

That was when she felt it and it took her breath away, a tight constricting that actually.... hurt! Without a thought to how she would be there one moment and then gone the next to those that might be looking her way at the party she reached out with her powers and sought for Him...letting that invisible thread that connected her to him draw her to wherever he might be.

She blinked as she appeared without a sound, only the tempting scent of nectar and ambrosia gave away her prescence in the hall among all the wolves.

Well that and the striking sleeveless crimson gown that bared her shoulders and hugged all the right places. Dressed for battle she was not! Sticking out like a sore thumb she paid no heed to the stares or the low, threatening growls that came her way as she moved through the throng towards Wulf, staring at him in something akin to awe as she viewed him in his primitive garb and decoration.

She did not like the way her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of him, more so at the feel of his internal conflict and the emotions that rolled through him like a thundercloud. The other feeling that shot through her was entirely familiar where he was concerned, the basic draw of woman to man, female to male as she gazed upon the Alpha was at least comforting, if inopportune in it's timing. Standing as he was, fierce and proud, powerful and menacing...it called to a basic urge within her that made her internal fires roar for him.

Several tried to halt her progress, stepping in front of her to block her progression toward their leader but as they moved to block her she merely vanished from their sight to reappear behind them, never breaking her stride as she moved to the tall, blonde Scot's side and slid a hand up his arm in silent question, pausing only at his shoulder as she felt the power coming from the torque about his throat and inhaling sharply as she looked from it to his eyes.

They had done many things that night they spent together not that long ago; spoke of many things. And yet, they still did not know that much of one another. It didn't lessen the bond she could feel forming between them as much as she flinched away from such a permanent thing. It was as if those bitches The Fates were having a bit of fun at her expense. She should never have made fun of them or cracked the jokes about their 'sensible shoes'.

She could feel the anger and the hostility brimming to a boil in the room. It wasn't because of her, she knew, but her appearance, the unknown person to most when tensions were high and nerves were on edge did not help really. Closing her eyes she turned to her own particular gifts, sending out a wave of calm and serenity through the room to ease them somewhat. Not enough make them suddenly want to start doing the macarena but enough to let the raised hackles soothe and calm.

Looking to her warrior she asked softly, not using the cute petname for him this once. "What is happening Wulfgar? Why are you about to pay homage to Ares' temple and shed blood? I can sense it in you. You blood lusts for spilling other's and taking lives." her voice was hushed, the tone perhaps carrying but the words only heard by those closest to them. The sound of utter confusion was in her voice and written upon her features as she looks at him. But there was more...there was concern as well.

She did NOT like this feeling...this....worry she felt that mounted her like a rider and sat upon her shoulders. it was unfamiliar and uncomfortable and scared her on levels she didn't know existed. The urge to take hold of him and whisk him away to some far, remote island away from everyone and everything was strong but she resisted, not fearing the physical damage that the Celt could do but rather the fear that he would turn cold toward her and dismiss her entirely.[/center]

[Wulfgar Fenrisulfr]

(OK... after speaking with most people involved in this, we've decided to just leave this as is unless someone wants to write something else for rounding this out. Due to real life and other things, the muse for the plot has been lost so we have decided to let everyone write their own flashbacks of "THE BATTLE" and move forward with our individual characters. Thank you everyone who was involved!!)