Homestrucked Back to School

Ceth:


Wulf brings up another good possibility.

I nod.

"Yeah! They could, right?"

Maybe he'll see it my way after all when the deed is done.

I get up when he brings up the time an head off as well.

"See ya there, mate."

I have my father's scanner to get too.

---- Meanwhile ----

Crystal peers around at all the holographic faces curious for any that look threatening. They looked dismayed faces.

(Cethiris): "Hmm... You truly wonder why we can be upset hearing such unfortunate news. I guess that's an emotional difference between our species."


He peers pointedly then his gaze sweeps to the children.

(Cethiris): "But such biological comparisons are for another time. To the pressing matter.  I'd like to hear some confirmation from the students themselves first."


He looks at Cersei first since she's the important one for New London's future and should be respected and spoken to first because of that of course.


(Cethiris): "Does this man speak the truth?"


He leans forward gazing intently as if that could help him get a read on any 'tells' of forced collaboration if she's forced to lie.


(Cethiris): "Did he... 'save you all' from the horrible Crazes? What happened over there ?"

Lulu:

A... locket?...

....

"No."

Mom frowns at something and I follow her and dad's gaze to the TV. Someone's bum is on screen.

"Something mood-wise." I gesture with my half-eaten apple to the TV. "Like how that one might be on something."

I look back to the servant and chew and swallow.

"Like, wanna feel some excitement instead of the humdrum of daily servant life?"

I take another bite of my apple. The feed shifts to Fritz and Crystal.

On mute

(Crystal): "Oh- yes. Thank you, both of you. I-"

Before she can say whatever she was going to stay, the King cuts her off. His gaze hard and voice level.

(Cethiris): "Alright, I've 'seen' and heard enough chinwag. Now Morg if you could finish with your 'saving' and drop these kids off to be medically checked out for any Craze tampering, we can leg it to.. business of the threat at hand." He lies and glances over to the Scotland holograms with a disapproving cold gaze.

Ethan takes a step back, eyes wide in alarm at hearing about being medically 'checked out'.

(Leviathan): "Wait-. No." Swallows and forces to step back forward and try to get some attention. "That-that isn't necessary."

Kelsie's eyes widen and goes to turn on the sound as the camera goes back to the kids and Eth, who glances at the others around and then towards the King hologram.

I hear Lev's voice and look over. What? My class is on TV?

(Leviathan): "We're fine, your highness. It was just a fire and others got taken that all. It would-"

Lev gets cut off by the sudden appearance and voice of the Prince in holographic form.

(Ceth): "No. You all aren't fine. It looks to me you lot have a chav problem." He makes a tisking noise. "So much disrespect for the crown. Ivy's youth has gone to the dogs." 

(Leviathan): "I meant no disrespect, your highnesses. I was just.. suggesting that medical examinations would be a waste of everyone's time and resources.."

(Ceth): "And you have lost the plot if you think you know better than your betters." He looks over at the holograms of his father and the other leaders. "But that's not the children's fault, is it? It's those that raise and teach 'em. The ones above. The example setters. Those in charge. Things that rot start at the top, eh lads?" Perhaps it's time to fix that."

Crystal listens and watches at these new authority in the room and glances to Morg.

Fritz:
 
Usually I find what comes out of Cersei's mouth annoying but she was making Crystal look good among the other elite. Maybe she could be our Demond. A city hero

She deserved all the fame and honor her brother gets for a change.

Then I think about all the weird fan girl stuff the big 3 get. hmm wait a minute. 

(Morgain): "I guess I'll have to undergo medical experiments too? In case of contagions..or are we free to go? Unless you had a personal reward"

I looked worried not for myself but the thought of them autopsying Crystal or something. They wouldn't would they? 

((We're close to that Duke.)) I say nervously wondering if we we're supposed to exit with the other class kids or stick with Morgain.

Lulu:

Mom messes with the light that shows we're open so no one else tries to enter.

I toss my apple core from where I sat towards a bin to make a basket.

"Awwwee. Of course, something happens when I don't get to be there."

I cross my arms frowning.

So uncool. Only the losers are there.

I swing my feet disappointed, looking at my boots for a moment then look to dad, eyes 
lightning up at this opportunity.

"Are we gonna go stealthy? Camouflage in there and get out? I can cause a distraction!"

I dunno what, but I'm sure something spontaneous and fun would occur to me in the moment.

Tyrone:


My mind is STILL BLOWN at the possibility of all this happening. And the fact our golden child - Levithan brought it about.
I can only imagine the horrors that await him.
Cthulhu says something reckless - confounded I would have lectured her against it but instead.

"Yes. We need a distraction."

I look at Kelsie nervously for admitting that. 

We must have unknowingly just slided into a parel universe...

((To the ship!))

That wasnt our shop - the backup one.

Crystal:

(("Right... We have two objectives going on.")) I inform Fritz and stick by his side.

The King side-eyes his son, who looks annoyed people didn't engage with his set up, before looking back to Morg.

(Cethiris): "Well, isn't that proactive thinking old boy? How considerate you are of this.. New alliance and your health." He says while not addressing the negative potential of 'medical experimentation's' wording and looks to the Queen of France. "I'm sure something can be arranged 'award-wise' during your check-up. My daughter is quiet a creative and gifted little soul of imagination and intrigue. I'm sure something can be cooked up to celebrate the.. uniqueness of the situation and set us in a good path towards success. Isn't that right, my pride and joy?"

As if that isn't ominous... Ethan thinks, not liking anything about this 'field trip' at all, and still gazing around warily and trying to re-shrink to the back of the group after the 'bold' attempt didn't help at all.

(("While you were checking on your dad Morg told me he had a vision that if Cerio gets consumed by a black lion the kingdom will fall and that only a white tiger can stop it... That's why I've been trying to stick around Cersei. However, Morg doesn't know when that'll go down. So we should take this opportunity with the Duke. It'll be easier to get back into Cersei's orbit than his."))

Especially after all her praise and all.

Lulu:

Mom shares a look with dad, while my face lights up delighted. Dad actually agreed! Ahhh!!

(Kelsie): "We'll ginger something out. We've made it this far." She gives his hand a squeeze.

I follow mom and dad to the delivery ship and once mom gets it started and we take off I briefly ponder my options. Then just go gut reaction and start to strip down right there in the control center.

(Kelsie): "Lulu! What are-"

"The distactionnnn!" I proclaim proudly. As if there was no take-backsies now because there wasn't in my mind. And if would only be funnier if they tried.

Gets down on all fours and grits and grinds my teeth and huffs and winces in pain as my rib cage cracks open wide to start making a horse torso shape and my neck and arms and legs start elongating.

Mom looks ill when she realizes the form I was going in.

(Kelsie): "You are not going out there like that!"

I start to feel dazed and sick from my freaky biology going through this. My head sways weakly and I accidentally vomit the apple I just ate out of my stomach contents. I wince at the feeling it had when it came up through my new long throat.

Mom rips her eyes away from me and stares wide eyed at Dad, white-faced, mortified at all the horrible fates that could await me going around in unicorn form.

(Kelsie): "Typhon! Do something!"

Tyrone:

I don't know WHY I told Lulu YES. I barely am able to plot a course of action when she starts her.. distraction.

Kelsie didn't like it. 

I don't blame her.

"Lulu, a unicorn sighting is...too dangerous.. your going to have to look more...Inkling....monstrous unappealing.."

I wince and look at Kelsie. I dont think that makes it better does it?

"Or....I could do it..?" I pluck out some of my beard in stress. 

What a dreadful situation to be in. We could loose them both!

Fritz:

I listen to the King. What he says doesn't sound good. His daughter was..pretty intense.

His son may be surprising too. I heard Ceth's input and wonder if he meant what I thought he meant.

Crystal tells me at last why she's been sucking up to Cersei like that.

((Ohhh I thought you..err..)) I stop myself for further embarrassment of the jealousy I felt this whole trip.

((What Cerio could it be!?))

I look at the King, then his son and there was the Queen of France too.

Crystal:

Fritz trails off... Well, whatever he thought he's been corrected now.

Fritz wonders which.

(("I don't know.. Are there a lot?"))

Humans and their spreading around and all.

Doesn't realize the people who've been talking in the meeting have been Cerios.

Kelpie:

Lulu's eyes glow red brightly and she makes a mental dolphin-like squeak at us of excitement.

(Lulu): (("Yess!! That would be so cool!"))

I look away her starting to spout tentacles and her horse limbs and neck retracting, to look at Typhon.

Are we really trying to encourage this?

I let out a breath. These are desperate times.

I try to ignore that little spark in my chest and the back of my mind of wanting to go out and fight. Those days had to be behind me with kids and identities to protect.

(Lulu): (("We could both go!")) She makes another dolphin-like mental squeak.

I lower my head and rub my brows.

"Yes, fine. I suppose one of you would have to grab Lev."

Lev got themself into this mess, I can't trust them to get themselves out of it even with a distraction.

I raise a hand.

"I will... Stay with the ship so it's ready just-" I look pointedly at Lulu's mass of tentacles. "Make sure you camouflage before you go in and out of here."

I then narrow my gaze at both of them.

"And both of you come in one piece."

Points to my eyes then points at them squinting like I'd know if they'd screw up and leave a chopped tentacle somewhere.

I then look up at the ceiling, shaking my head and trying to send affirmations to the spirit world that was not the day I became a grandparent or additional parent. Sorry, no reincarnation today with this family, great ancestors.

I open my seed pouch that was looped securely around my belt and start to grow some healing herbs just in case my idiots come back injured. It would be better to have the herbs on hand then possibly have unforeseen circumstances that would make growing them later awkward, like an audience.

Crystal:

The Prince gives a brief wave to Cersei, then after she leaves, rolls his eyes right as he turns away, walking off the holo platform. His image disappears right as he opens his mouth to say something to his Royal Seal Guards. His King's hologram had also left.

(("Interesting... So hmm..."))

I ponder the possibilities.

How would it all make sense? If a Boron lion got rid of one how that would lead to it all shattering...?

(("Maybe either one of the King's kids dies and he goes super evil ruler and breaks everything or he emotionally crumbles from the loss and someone else takes over and screws everything up... Or he dies and the kid that takes over is evil and the other doesn't stop them or is also evil?"))

Royal guards come over standing at attention and watching everyone wander across the landing bridge platform. Some guards take posts outside the ship entrance to presumably secure it and a Selkie commander awaits at the tower castle entrance.

Leviathan:

I can't hide my grimace as I watch my classmates leave and the emptying-ness around me of humans is less a comfort and more helping the spread of the tendrils of panic at feeling more exposed with nowhere to hide and blend in with unless I follow them into certain doom. And I can't do that or I'll expose myself ans my family and I can't resist cause that'll also look suspicious and what would that even accomplish but a delayed checkup or worse? Especially if I don't use my powers and if I do well then I just outed myself. I can't even try to slip away now. They saw my face! Ahhhh! Why did I even try to say anything to the royal human! AHHH!

I look to the old man, but I think he was just going along with this!!??

Mentally screams to self and takes deep quick breaths.

I look around with a sick feeling in my gut and nerves tingling as I reluctantly get to the door of the ship and follow along. My heart pounds in my chest and in my ears, feeling the pressure of how I have to thoroughly screwed over myself and everyone somehow.

We get led across the landing port bridge and I feel a sensation tickling at me. I shiver. Ziros.. I'm sure of it... What does that mean? Do they have some here for anti-alien experiments?!

(Lulu to Dad): (("Yes!")) She bobs up and down on her mound of tentacles while suction-cupped to the platform's underside with him.

Leafe:

I look behind me at Ethan concerned and hesitate before joining the others.

"Are you..ok?" 

I ask a little worried why he was hanging back. 

They were all such important people, it was a little scary right?

Typhon:

I feel Ethan near - securing him should not be too hard, getting away among this many ships.

I thought to overthink again, it makes me want to turn back but I don't. The younger me surely would think I was a coward for all the hiding and secrecy. Being out here again was just the reminder of the many choices that led me here.

I was frustated with Ethan for putting us in his posotion but also in myself for being here in the frist place.

Lucky there was some smaller ships to take out all that internalized emotion on.

*grabs a small ship and smashes it into another smaller one. Alarms blaze. I try to cause some damage above the bridge so those on gaurd would look upward. 

I swing across New London's ship and flip inking some drones and floating platforms.

I let out a roar right in the camera  holo feed filming the attack and eat the camera so the viewers at home are left in the dark.

*extra effort to smash satellites and cameras floating around and then cloak myself over another floating platform so it is fired on as I jump off*

Fritz:

I listen to Crystal name possibilities. I ponder what's worst? Evil old king, evil new king.. or someone we don't even know.

((Maybe now all of them will be together? So we can keep an eye on them.. also watch out for Wulf.))

I think we we're supposed to kidnap Wulf Jr too... damn what if he kidnaps us first?

I stare at the guards and follow walking without fear yet this felt like a capture. 

(Cersei): "Didnt Ceth look so handsome!" 

She chatters on to Bruno.

((Did you see his eyeroll to Cersei? Maybe they arent so in love..))

Evil vengeful love scored Cersei?
I try to picture it..
Nah

Is that a clue?

I hold onto Crystal as the ground jerks. I look up at... 

"Ahh!"

Is that a lion..dont think SO!!?

Ethan:

I take some more deep anxious breaths.

"I uh-"

I glance forward toward the great towers we are headed toward, while I make sure to both consciously remain visible and try to think of an excuse for being so upset.

I look back to Leafe and sniffle and blink my eyes.

"No... I just feel bad. Humiliated, you know?.. After the London Prince's words..."

I wince at the sound of alarms going off. I look up like others do and my breath catches and I can't help but just gape and what I see.

Crystal hisses and keeps a hand on Fritz while trying to see 'the creature' but soon can't due to the cloaking.

Lulu makes shrieks and clicking noises while swinging that large mass of tentacles around on other tentacles and then slams their hooked tentacle points into windows shattering their glass and splintering their wood.

Some guards continued to gaze and fire around the empty spot dad had been. Meanwhile, others shift their attention to Lulu. She makes a headbutting motion at us and a shield forms protecting herself from their fire.

I grind my teeth and tighten my stomach.

Lulu waves their horn this way and that, levitating pieces of broken window glass, then makes a headbutting motion again while leaping off the building, while also spreading out and then motioning down her many tentacles. Glass shards go flying down at the guards like piercing bullets.

My senses are bombarded by the resulting blood seeping dark wet red on red uniforms.

She then lets loose a cloud of red misty ink before cloaking.

Fritz:

I keep my arm around Crystal trying to stay with her as everything crashes around.

I stare at the  tentacle as it comes dangerously close to grab a hooded guard.


*all I can think about is Bash's ...tentacles... and now I think all tentacles are the same*

.....

Thats a big di-

I get side swiped by it - but it wasn't visible now it was slapping and hitting cloaked. I try to run straight but it was everywhere - multiple.  I see another student running up in the air - he was running on the invisible leg and then flung back.

Lulu:

I charge ahead with levitation across the sides of the bridge, smacking guards and unleashing inky mist.

The red hoods on the other sides of the bridge and on other layers fire their shock sticks ahead if the ink clouds assuming my trajectory.

I makes a shriek noise at the hit. It wounds my flesh and smells burnt and pisses me off!

I dive down at fast speed and loop under the various port platforms and fly up at the other side, spinning a couple times in the air then hover and look and sense for Ethan.

Lev had turned back the direction the class had come from and had ducked behind a parked ship and was looking around warily hoping no one would notice in all the chaos or question it.

I zoom back down towards my target and when I get there let out more ink to cover Lev.

(("Did you really think you could do interesting stuff without me!?"))

Lev frowns in the mist before camouflaging and doesn't mind speak back. I roll my eyes. As if anyone would be allies of the humans to hear our mind chatter. I ensnare tentacles around them to try to cover their clothes, wincing as I do from the wound.

I head off back to our ship and left Lev up to the opening window to crawl into. Mom sees and helps pull Lev in.

Tyrone:(Beast form)

*slaps down hard with multiple tentacles enraged when I sense Lulu get hurt.*

"ROAAAR!"

*DADDY BLIND ANGER smashes multiple ships together, 

With another bellow an arm flings a cargo freighter right into New Romania.

 It goes down in flames right at New Athens 

That blows up and sends a few closer ships backwards all bumping into one another* 

Is shot at but cloaks again and starts crawling close to the ship walls - sees/senses the blood inside their little meat suit bodies and BLOWS up from the inside out 

CHOAS!

Ceth:

"Well, today is special after all. It seems fate has decided to make things even easier for us."

I say to my girls after I telepathically summon them.

I smirk. (("Father won't know what hit him."))

I look to the royal seals at my left.

(("You lot head towards the cloning chambers. When I give the word, shoot it up and wreck the bloody place to kingdom come."))

Extra security there during this time shouldn't raise suspicions.

I raise a pointer finger.

(("Not a moment before."))

I wave a hand to dismiss them then catch the wrist of the girl on my right as she moves and look at them.

(("Not you girls."))

I smile at my pretty beauties and raise my fingers over her arm then move to pet her hood. My stomach sucks in a little at the thought of freely pretty my girl's beautiful selkie furs. It was so close now.

I take a deep breath.

I could taste it.

(("The rest of you are coming with me for the big show, my loves. Our freedom is at hand and you all will be a part of it all... Their end is going to be in bloodshed, but leave the old bastard for me."))

~~~

Shadows pass over the stairs via windows as ships get flung past outside as my entourage and I make our way down to the control room.

I pause.

(("On my signal.")) I eye them demanding absolute control of my girls. I'm sure they're just as anxious as I am. But this is my show.

We enter and I see the old bastard leaning over a console concerned. People are moving about restlessly and I hear a choir of comms chatter between the ships.

I think to my pack in the cloning units. (("Now."))

Near moments after, alarms start to blare and I see shock pass over Father's face once he realizes what they're for and reaches over comms.

(Cethiris): "The cloning labs been compromised! Reinforcements to the cloning labs!"

While my girls look anxious for their sisters, I smile at his words and walk towards my father.

(Cethiris): "This is a nightmare! Enemies that can cloak! Blasted! Why did no one mention that?!"

I unsheath werewolf claws and swiftly slash the comms unit and grab my father's throat as his eyes go wide.

I quietly stare into his eyes as the static of the broken mic equipment is barely heard over the airwaves chatter filtering through speakers of the other nation ships.

Father's Royal Guard had lifted their weapons in surprise. My body juts slightly at the impact of a couple pistols shots, one at my side and one at my back from two shocked and bold soldiers while the others held off given the proximity of my body to the king.

I don't break my stare down. "Kill them."

My ears tingle and itch as I hear the electric sizzle of electric spears opening followed by chaos.

I feel the old me kick at my leg and grasp feebly at my arm, trying to pull it away. I tilt my head taking the beating.

I feel his adam's apple sweetly move under my palm as he calls out for the 'guards' but they're too busy fighting for their own lives let alone his. And reinforcements are headed for the labs...

"You know I wonder what your body would look like skinned? Shame humans are so fleshly and disgusting-"

He cuts me off as he moved his disgusting human hands from my wrist and clawed at my face though he hadn't the nails for it. The old man never could cease the pathetic human subconscious habit of ripping them off. Ironic now really.

I chuckle lowly and lean my head back as gunfire and electricity carve the air around us. I breathe in so many scents and all at once. Anxiety and fear permeate the air, just as much if not more so that gun powder, sweat, charred flesh, blood, cigar smoke, someone's disgarded sandwich. Something 'father' could never understand. I breathe in his anger like brilliantly brewed beer.

"At least you have spirit." I lick my lips. "I can't wait to taste it... But I can wait." I look at him intently. "I'm nothing if patient. And I wouldn't want to ruin the hide... I wonder... How long can you stay alive during the process... Gotta keep the meat fresh you know?"

The old codger actually spat on me while he stare at me with fury in his gaze. I've suffered worse fluids. I smile as if taking the gesture as a good sign.

"I thought you'd appreciate the scientific trial of human resilience."

I unleash the claws on my other hand and bring it up to his soft weak flesh.

Lulu:

After Lev is deposited I head back out to enact revenge!

Woah! Daddy was really going at it! So impressive and inspiring to let it all out and not hold back! I might not be as practiced or knowledgable as daddy but I can try my best! 

Mom witnessed Daddies chaos past us during the drop off. She tears her eyes away from Dad's destruction to looks over Lev, who grimaces with shame and swallows.

(Lev): "Mom I- I'm sorry."

She looks past Lev then around noticing I haven't shown up. Her shoulders slump.

(Kelpie): "Lulu isn't here, is she?"

(Leviathan): "She's gone." Confirms with blood vision.

Mom mutters a curse under her breath.

Meanwhile, I make a shrieking noise and charge horn first with a projected barrier from it into a ship. The shattered glass makes the most beautiful sound and it's followed up by the patter of fire hitting my shield from the other side.

Makes clicks as I limit the sides of my barrier so I can slip out my tentacles to push myself out of my little ship side hole.

I make more clicks now seeing the prey inside. Damn elites and their guards.

Starts flinging them around with their inner fluids and then bursts arms and necks spewing blood.

Eth stares the glorious aftermath of daddies wrath, getting mixed signals, while Mom tries to mind-talk us.

(Kelpie to Lulu): (("Get back here!"))

I throw my head back and think to the fam. (("Viva revolution!"))

(Kelpie to Lulu): (("This is not fun and games or some history book you read in school, this is serious!"))

Those behind me start gunning for the tentacles suctioned to the sides of my hole. I push off and backflip into invisibility.

(Kelpie to Lulu): (("If you don't come back this instant I'll have Lev order you and drag you back here! Is that what you want?")) She threatens.

(("Ugh! You're so uncool!")) I pout invisibly.

(Kelpie to Lulu): (("You have five seconds. Five, Four, Three, Two-"))

(("Yeah, yeah! Fine. Whatever.")) Buzz kill.

I head back.

(Kelpie to dad): (("Hey, hey, it's okay. You can come back now. We got our babies back."))

Typhon:(beast form)

*demonic shrieking sounds resonating off my scales causing massive telepathic attacks to people inside the ships. Some drop to their knees holding their heads while others brain bleed and fall over.
Those inside the city domes and in the small towns hear a shaking and feel a unease. I space out sensing how many life forms were on the ship. I hear cracking and breaking and FEAR.

The blooood so much blood calls to me, sings to me.

*levitates a typhoon of blood from all the bodies/mashed gore and finely drops it all hearing Kelpie*

I retract my wounded blasted tentacles back into myself to prevent any from falling off. I only walk /crawl with 5 legs cloaking and moving. I throw one last cargo in the opposite direction to make the drones and defending ships follow as I morph and shift smaller to get back on the ship.

((Sorry.))

As soon as I am abored.

((ETHAN!?)) *rage redirected*  

Leviathan:

Lulu shifts back and also enters.

I wince and grimace at dad's yell in my head.

I am sensing so much rage from Dad and anger from mom. I shrink back from him, shoulders up to my ears tense. I felt cornered by their suffocating anger, which wasn't helped why mom closes up the ship making me even more entrapped.

She looks at me with arms crossed and her weight shifted to one leg.

Lulu stands behind them and sticks out her tongue as she holds her wounded arm. I look at it guiltily then think how she went back there and realize did I really need to? 

I look at her horn and feel a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and look away.

She could just cry on her arm and she'll be fine anyway...

"How did you find me?"

(Kelpie): "We're the ones asking questions! What were you even doing here!?"

I look back at mom and dad and feel my own anger at the unfairness of them being angry at me. I know I screwed up when I spoke back and showed my face to the royals but I was just making due with the situation and It wasn't my fault I was there in the first place. I was a victim in this too.

I straighten my posture determined and lower back down my arm and cross them with a pointed annoyed look.

"We got attacked at school today by the Crazes!" As I say I'm hit with sadness of it that had been prolonged and distant until now. As if it hadn't been real or hadn't really sunk in yet. Or was it shock?

Either way, it drowns my anger as pain hits my chest. People were gone now! People like Derrek...

I could've... I could've done something.

I lower my head and tighten my fingers around my arms and I feel tears in my eyes but a part of my mind has to wonder if I'm really upset at what happened or if I'm just upset and feeling pity for myself.

That this... This is why my horn never developed?.. That I'm so... impure and selfish... It could tell before I was even finished developing in the egg?.. But is that fair if its really if it's to keep my family safe? It's so... Complicated...

Kelpie watches me and her eyes soften.

(Kelpie): "Ethan-"

I sniffle and swallow and blurt out.

"I didn't know Mr. Morgain was going to send us up to the King until after we got on his ship and he took off. Him and a Trydein girl made it seem like it was just going to be a tour of their ship and offered snacks while the school was on fire and burning down."

I look up blinking tears.

"I thought it was an impromptu lesson thing while the fire was dealt with! Until Fritz told us they were looking for Wulf Jr. for some reason!"

Lulu wrinkles her nose, and rubs her ear and mutters.

(Lulu): "Ugh can you be any more whinier?

Ethan:

I lower my head and sniffle as Dad lectures about not going off with anyone.

I still think in that teenage I'm smarter mindset, it should have been better generally than standing around breathing in that awful smoke and the vicinity of the heat radiating off the school's flames... It just... turned out to be the wrong people. I feel a bit sick to my stomach. Yeah. The really wrong people. I mean yeah I could have... Tried to call mom and dad to pick me up, I guess. But... Was it so wrong to do something different outside of home with other people from class?... We live here why not 'live here', otherwise what's the point? ...Or is it just easier to hide here than back at cousin's kingdom?...

Dad asks if our cover is blown and I swallow my thoughts down trying to focus.

I consider how I had been talking to Leafe before their ambush. But when that happened the class was all running ahead to get inside. And they put up a lot of ink as a smoke screen. Would Leafe really have seen or deduced anything other than just panic and going for cover?... I dunno... But she was gifted...

I feel ill at the thought over what might occur over probably nothing.

Mom's eyes narrow at my uneased expression. Her earlier sadness and protectiveness over her baby turned to a proactive protectiveness tinged with pent-up aggression at the situation.

(Kelpie): *Accusitory voice.* "What did you do?"

I look up startled and look away.

"Nothing! I... I was just thinking everything over. I made sure not to panic and go invisible! I was very careful about that and you all smoked up the place good and I had kept to the back even before that. I just... Was considering the whole not showing up with everyone else inside and if the ships I had behind would have had any external cameras or whatever to have recorded me being gone by the time her ink would have dispersed, but I suppose there would be plausible potential of them thinking I ran out after being inked and the cameras just didn't pick it up being as thick cloudy as it was... Would they really to to the effort to try to link other cameras for one student among so many casualties?"

Lulu puts a good hand on her hip.

(Lulu): "Daddy took out the cameras! We're not stupid Ethan!"

I look down at the floor warily.

"That's good. I was just mentally working out everything. We're probably fine."

Kelpie squints at my evasive attention.

(Kelpie): "Are you sure that's everything?" She grills in a hard interrogating stare down.

I force myself to look up starting to get defensive and mad in my own right after all these emotions I kept sensing in the room.

"What do you think it is I did or could have done?"

Mom doesn't answer that.

"I did try to verbally get out of being medically examined and now I go mysteriously missing. But so what! Now there's a bunch of people who need medical attention! I'll just... Tell my classmates 'if' they ask what happened, that I hid from the monsters and froze up unable to will myself to run to the safety of the castle given how the monsters were invisible and could still be lurking, and then ended up getting picked up by my parents later."

Ceth:

I wanted Cethiris to see his legacy destroyed first. I wanted to see the despair and failure in his eyes first beyond just his disgust for me. I wanted to see him broken.

For so long I had been a stain and a shame on his perfect dull, boorish life. Sure, I put up with it at first. It was all I knew. It was expected and in my best interest to do so. But it all got so monotonous and boring and it was clear for a long time I would be stuck in this limbo, while my milk-made youthful father remained forever in control.

Then I was his deviant freak. A failure. His boogeyman that he just couldn't get rid of. He wouldn't dare send out his guards and minions to the slave alien-tainted locations and parties I frequented. Waking or asleep. I was surrounded by the 'filth'. He couldn't get me without scandal, questions and publicity so he settled for controlling my life through said publicity, public expectations and a culture he helped shape and an arranged betrothal. Ugh.

Now I would truly be free. Now I would be the one is control. Absolute, perfect control.

I contain my bloodlust for a few minutes longer. I backhand him across the face to stun him and guide him out of the control room by the neck.

I kept the bastard's bloody mouth covered with my other hand to muffle his attempted yells of commands trying to get people's attention.

He bit my hand but I didn't pull away. I just smirked and pulled him closer to my face as his eyes bore into me.

"Now isn't that an idea? I bite you and turn you into a werewolf... Then you'd die no longer human and I'll get a fur pelt out of it." I smiled while his eyes turned to wide-eyed horror.

I knew I didn't have the time for that though. I needed him out of the picture to secure my position before people notice his situation and try to loyally free him.

The smell of the lab hit my senses before we even stepped inside. Strong, mind-tingling, chemicals and sterilizer fluids that had gooshed out of broken pods. It was eye-watering and made me squint but I held firm. If I didn't do this now how I wanted to do it I would retreat it. And I wasn't going to live with retreats of what I could have done now. My life and choices was mine.

I forced him to his knees and made him turn his head to look at the lab in ruins and felt him tremble slightly.

I tilt my head back trying to focus on the scents of the emotions that tinged the air. Savoring my victory. That and the chemicals gave me a high and I sliced into his smooth flesh while feeling like I was made of clouds myself.

The blood and meat scents made me tense with need, mouth-watering in a hungry high haze but I kept up the work. My mind chanted. Skin Skin skin.

Tiredness was seeping into me with the chemicals. I shoulda realized that was why no one remained here. But the thrill of the victory overwhelmed that.

I dropped his raw flesh over my head and back like a mantel and madly laughed in my high state as I pulled the skin close.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

I ran out in my human cloak and howled from the top of the stairs.

Ethan:

Mom nods to Dad's point about being nobodies when probably a lot of somebodies died.

I look away glaring and rub away any wetness from my eyes.

Lulu gingerly gets dressed.

She then casually sits back.

(Lulu): "Well that was fun!"

I quietly growl at her statement.

Of course, it was entertaining for her.

Narrows eyes while staring at nothing in particular.

(Lulu): "Guess that means you're staying home from school too. Shame. And it was so nice without you there..."

I finally glare at her and flip her off. She grins and double flips me off back and unleashes a couple ziro tentacles and holds the pointed ends up as well, then tilts her head back gesturing with her horn.

Leafe:

I run in the crowd loosing the others and try to hid. I see a flash of red and was drawn to hide under a red hood

I creep closer to somewhere quieter and curl into myself trying not to cry, trying not to make a sound.

...what I witnesss next is...
NO ONE WOULD BELIVE.

THE PRINCE!???

Darling Prince Ceth... he...he was a monster..

I hold my ears at the howling and try to press deeper in my hiding spot. 

OH MY GOODNESS

Ceth:

Chaos, such beautiful chaos!

The world tilts and colours in my high perceptions. In the sensory wonder of it all, I smell an intruding scent to my territory. (Leafe's hair)

Growls and hunkers down my shoulders.

I turn my head this way and that sniffing the air.

Such a scent!

I stalk towards the source breathing heavily.

I see red. It tilts and shifts like the world in my vision as my head lulls to the side.

Blood drips trail after, dripping upon the carpet behind me, down my back.

I start to kneel down towards it but as I do I hear a shout of Wulf.

I turn my head towards it and catch a scent as I breath. It's faint against the overwhelming other scent so close but my canine senses pick it up.

Not just Wulf Jr... No...

I tense.

Cat.

I lick my salivating teeth, glistening against the lights of the room and change and contort right there, breathing hot breath on the swirling red hood. I tilt my head up mouth elongating into a muzzle. The saliva dripping down in stands like a dog upon the hood.

I tear off my suit with hands that arm blooming and swelling into black paws. The back rips out with my arching body as I become my true self. The great black wolf.

Leaving the discarded remains of my suit I then turn and bound away on all fours towards the floof still wearing my mouthed skin hood and cape.

Crystal had previously looks this way and that with so much sounds and activity going on at once. She had nodded to Fritz' earlier idea. Now she looked to Wulf Jr. surprised.

Movement catches her attention.

Me.

(Crystal): "Wolf!" She calls out.

I leap from the stairs, flesh rippling like a superhero cape and raining blood specks behind me like some majestic mythical beast. Like a cartoon unicorn trailing rainbows. But I am a werewolf trailing blood.

I land upon the source of the scent, my large bulk ripping her from Fritz's grasp and slamming her to the ground.

She lets out a gasp and I realize I may have broken bones. I don't know and don't care. Rough or tame. It's all the same in the heat of passion!

(("WHERE IS THE FUR!"))

I mentally growl out.

I bound up and down onto her torso. Her body thuds from the impact. Just as I rear up a paw to slash into the supple skin to expose the cat beast inside she disappears.

Then suddenly reappears and lands above me catching me unaware. As I land on my stomach from her fall she in one fluid motion slashes with her own claws across my glorious skin coat, severing Cethiris' skinned head cap and neck from the rest. She shoves it aside and as I get back up she hunkers down and locks her arms around my neck. Then she bites into it and shakes her head viciously.

I stumble back on my rear paws and try to turn my head this way and that trying to reach her but can't given her position. Twists and turns trying to flail her off.

Ceth:

My ears perk up at the enchanting melody, I swear I can see notes dance around in the air. (from the high.) I look toward the sound's source. Wulf! I give him a wolfish grin.

(("You mad lad came through! What a ledge!"))

The woman on my back is forced to let go. I sharply tip to the side and she rolls off. My ears twitch at the snapping of her bones. Her body ripples in white fur with hints of black. Stripes like her hoodie that her large tiger body splits apart. I moan at the pure white and blackness of it. Such a beauty! My vision fills with it like a psychedelic caleidoscope of the most wicked fur hide carpet I ever did see.

Blue fur catches in my peripherals and my head sways as it dances unfocused in my gaze, only sharpening when I look over. Ooo. Delicious!

The white tiger faces towards the blue one as she morphs. Eyes wide. It pisses me off. Her eyes should be on me.

I nearly snap and bite the man, but manage to rein it in enough to instead just mash sharp teeth near his morphing. Drool dripping nearby on the carpet. I don't want to make him a wolf and give her even more a reason to look at him and not me! Imagine! a blue bloody wolf!

I pounce a paw on her tail and the white tiger lifts her beautiful head as she lets out a pained cat shriek. I gaze at that furry neck rumble, vision zooming in on it, and shiver from the feel of her fur under my paw. I wag my tail entranced.

I noticed something else had also caught Wulf's attention. I look behind me and see the red fur as well! It's a bloody miracle! Literally, in more ways than one given we're still alive during an alien attack.

I see my bitten red hoods stagger suddenly with stiff and jarring body contortions at first as they too are forced to morph into wolves.

The tiger woman suddenly lunges up and it feels like slow motion. The whites of her fangs bared. I just manage to jerk back and parry her clawing attempt with the back of my arm knocking it arm aside, then shove her back with my other palm touching her chest for the briefest of moments I felt her warmth and fur which ignited a sharper and physical ache of need..

Around us, there's a flurry of running and panic but it's all muted to me. It feels like there's nothing but a cool breeze between us. An energizing wind to fuel the heat of passion and make it that much sweeter. Her growls reverberate the chilled air and I feel it in my soul. Her untamed wildness.

...

I must have her.

I watch as she lunges again, claws glinting catching the light, closing the distance. But at that moment, before those claws ring true, some of my wolf pack races over, running and jumping on the blue one like a stepping stone, battering him with their paws, and red ripped fabric slides over his sides and head as they leap off him to slam into her from the side and piles upon her.

As she struggles to get out of the literal dog pile, I turn my attention to the blue one and extend my dry-blooded claw out intending to roam over the blue furry one for intense inspection and touches, uncarrying for the state of the apocalypse in my high fumed and lust filled brain. Those limbs that have beaten and rattled our windows aren't furry! 

(("We have quite a selection now don't we, old chum?"))

Ceth:

(("I haven't.")) Not for lack of interest, of course.   

I sway side to side slightly from the fumes but I think my head is starting to clear.

(("I have to say the challenge of keeping one intrigues me."))

I lick my tongue in the air, hallucinatng the taste of iron shackles and bars.

I don't respond to the blue one's words and instead my ears perk up and listen as the brilliant Wulf identifies the blue one. 

I tilt the demon's head side to side with a claw. (("Fascinating."))

I wonder if the dark lord enjoys fur as well then if demons are like this... (Doesn't know Vestials hate Flynn.)

I lean back away and flick my gaze to the window. I wonder how many shall be slain by our guests. The more hard-headed, stuck in their ways, old dead tossers the better. Younger ones would surely see more like us.

Ad so far we seem to be doing fine.

I force my head behind the blue beast's neck and grab it by the scruff with my jaws.

(("Well then. Let's take our beautiful bounty some else, I think."))

Certainly away from the window at least before the giant beasts poke through.

I start to drag the blue one curious if the eck bite will actually work on a demon floof.

Hopefully, we can encounter Morgain too. I'd love a crack at his bones.")) If what father said about them was true... Drools on Fritz.

(Didn't notice he got led away earlier.)


I have a guard girl pick up Daddy's skin for my trophy wall. The head hood will have to be sown on now that it's separated from the body cape...

Ceth:

The blue one makes noises. Not quite on par with a rumbly purr or a skin-tingling hiss though. But still. That roar. Such power behind it.

(("Sometimes the noiser tosser the better."))

I toss my furry head back towards Wulf and wink.

My lovelies had kept our prisoners reasonably at bay for our trip to my dear sister's castle of wonders.

Superior strength, growls, snapping jaws near the face, and jabbed shock spears to the sides, back, and legs of the furry beautiful black and white beastie. Yes, it was a nice trip. The white tigers hisses and yowls in my ear at the guard's jabs.

But soon... Soon she'd be making those sounds for ME.

 

Ceth:

I smile at her welcome and way of thinking.

"Fathom the buzz they would stir."

I can already imagine long tentacle gloves of fur to cover some of those many arms up. Add to the textile experience. Not to mention the challenge people would set about of trying to harness and lock up such a thing. All those leather bindings...

She asks of father and I take a deep breath to take stalk of those in our midst without looking around at them before I lower my head avoiding her eyes and put a hand to my heart.

"I'm sorry dearest sister. He didn't make it." I lift my chin up, eyes closed. "But I made sure to skin him. Hopefully, we can get it treated in time so a part of him can remain with us..."