“There’s an old clan proverb, brother…” Kane began. “You remember it, don’t you?”
Owen swallowed but didn’t respond as Kane pulled back the hammer on the handgun. His laughter faded away as the cold steel drew close.
“Yesss,” Kane hissed. “The proverb asked… What did the foolish man do when he heard the truth?”
Owen didn’t answer so Kane glanced at Daniella.
“You…” he said. “What did the foolish man do when he heard the truth?”
Daniella glanced at Owen. He didn’t look at her but instead kept his attention riveted on the gun barrel.
“I…” she stammered.
“Go on…” Kane said. “You can say it.”
“I don’t know.” She muttered.
“Good…” Kane replied. “Very good, Daniella. When the foolish man heard the truth, he laughed out loud. Isn’t that right, brother?”
“Don’t you fucking dare…” Owen warned.
“Too late,” Kane replied. “Perhaps the humans will have a weaker constitution for sacrificing the lives of others. Bring her…” he ordered.
Daniella crinkled her brow in confusion as she spun her head to see who the next victim would be in Kane’s murderous lineup. But as the person’s true identity emerged from between the glare of floodlights, every fiber of her being nearly erupted in a combination of rage and disbelief.
Dirtied, blindfolded and gagged, Daniella recoiled in terror as Kane’s men dragged her mother, Marilyn, into their midst and dumped her to their midst. As she hit the ground with a thud, Daniella jumped out from behind Owen to come to her aid.
“Mom!” She screamed.
“No!” Kane said as he aimed the pistol at her head. “Get back…”
Daniella shook her head and slowly stepped away, unable to process the reality in front of her. Her mother moaned and rolled back and forth on the ground in front of her.
***
“This has nothing to do with them!” Owen roared. “You fucking coward! Fight me! Now!”
But before Kane could reply, Daniella heard the sound of footsteps approach them from all sides. Through the glare of the lights, she saw faces of other people but none that she recognized.
Kane noticed as well.
He stepped away from Owen and spread his arms. “My brothers and sisters. My clan. Thank you for coming. I apologize for calling you here at this late hour but… there is much trouble.”
As Kane started to speak, murmurs spread among the crowd.
“Poor Buck,” Kane said as he gestured to the lifeless body. “He was complicit in a scheme against us all and as leader, I did what I must.”
“That’s a goddamn lie and you know it.” Owen muttered.
Kane ignored him and instead, gestured towards Millicent and Tucker. “As for Buck’s parents, their involvement is not yet clear but will be in due time.”
He walked back over to Owen and pointed the gun at him once more.
“But this man…” he said. “Some of you may know, others not… He is my blood and once… my brother. But, he betrayed the clan and me, your leader, many years ago.”
“That’s a lie…” Owen said as he looked around at the shadowed faces encircling them. “He knows it. This man is not the rightful leader of this clan…”
Kane pulled back the hammer on the pistol and aimed it at Owen’s face.
“Yet, I am the one who has driven the clan on to survive and thrive during that time,” Kane began. “It is I who possessed the will to persist no matter the odds. This man… he has none of those traits yet he wishes to challenge me for leadership of the clan?”
A rise of whispers and muffled discussion continued in the background as Kane spoke.
“If I were to allow it, this man would spout platitudes about loyalty, honesty, and commitment.” Kane said. “Yet, where was his loyalty when he abandoned me, his own brother, nearly three decades ago? Where was his honesty when he questioned my leadership in all that time? And where was his commitment when the clan needed him the most?”
“Enough!” Owen exclaimed. “I have challenged you…”
“Yes,” Kane sneered. “You have. By clan law, I must accept any challenge from another member. But… you long ago abdicated any right to that when you fled. Instead, I am compelled to carry out another edict which as leader… I must.”
With that, Kane pressed the barrel of the gun against Owen’s temple. “And so it ends for you now, traitor…”
Owen looked upwards, closed his eyes, and swallowed hard. “Do it you piece of shit.”
“Okay…” Kane said as he pulled the hammer back on the pistol.
“No!” Daniella screamed. “Wait! I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. Just, please… don’t kill him. Please…”
“Daniella, no!” Owen yelled. “Don’t say anything to him. Don’t!”
Kane chuckled in disgust.
“Just as I suspected. Very well…” he began. “Tell me everything you know my pretty little human and I’ll spare his life.”
“No, Daniella…” Owen warned. “Do not do it. He is lying. He will kill me no matter what. Don’t do…”
“Shut up…” Kane warned as he dug the gun barrel into Owen’s flesh.
“Talk.” He growled as he looked down at Daniella.
“Uh…” she stammered as her eyes darted in every direction. Daniella swallowed as she looked towards her mother. Marilyn lay exhausted and barely conscious less than five feet from her. The moment felt like complete and utter insanity as she searched for any words at all to calm Kane’s growing rage.
“Now!” Kane yelled.
Daniella hesitated. “I…” she stalled. As she looked into the black depths of Kane’s eyes, a searing pain ripped into her midsection once again. She cried out and fell to her knees.
“Daniella!” Tricia yelled as she ran towards her. But it was too late; Daniella crashed into the ground and writhed in agony.
Confused, Kane temporarily took his focus off Owen and turned it to the spectacle unfolding on the ground in front of him. The distraction was the opening Owen needed and he lunged towards the bear clan leader, knocking him down and sending the pistol flying from his hand in the process.
As they came to rest on the ground, Owen sat on top on of Kane’s chest and began to strike him in the face and jaw. A ferocious bout of violence ensued as Owen rained blow after blow upon him. But in spite of the attack, Kane seemed resilient… almost emboldened by it. Despite its briefness, Owen fatigued quickly from the short-lived battle. Without warning, Kane reached up and snatched Owen by the throat.
The suddenness of the movement caught the old shifter off guard. Feebly, he wrapped his hands around Kane’s forearm and did all he could to fend off the counterattack. With his free hand, Kane reached behind his head for the handgun. Just out of reach, one of his goons kicked it in his direction. Kane wrapped his hand around the gun, raised it up towards Owen, and fired.
“Noooooooo!!!” Daniella cried.
Owen’s body flew back, blood sprayed in every direction. Drops of it spattered down on Daniella and Tricia as Kane leapt to his feet and roared. The assembled throng appeared to revel in the mayhem. Shouts of approval and encouragement echoed in the night air across the moonlit field. Horrified, Daniella glanced over to see Owen’s body, motionless.
“You fucking bastard!” She screamed. Doubled over in pain, she managed to get to her feet and face the shifter leader. Tricia fought to restrain her as Daniella struggled to use whatever bit of strength within her to fight Kane.
“Daniella… no!” Tricia exclaimed. “Your baby…”
And in that instant, a hush fell across the grounds. Kane’s body posture relaxed and an evil grin came to his face. Wordless, he walked straight towards Daniella and shoved Tricia to the ground. He grabbed Daniella by the arm and spun her back around to face most of those assembled. He slipped his forearm around her throat, pulled her close to his torso, and raised the pistol
to her head.
“And so it is my fellow clansmen!” He exclaimed. “This human… whore… is here in your presence. And where is the coward responsible for her sullying our kind? Why does he not show his face? Is he nothing but a coward like his father before him? A slave to the human female…”
Tears streamed down Daniella’s cheek as Kane choked her.
“Daniella!” Tricia screamed. “No!”
Ignoring her protest, Kane tightened his grip around Daniella’s neck.
“Show yourself, coward!” Kane demanded. “Or the slut dies along with your spawn!”
Silence fell upon the grounds. Daniella’s heart raced as Kane increased the pressure of the gun barrel against her head. It was hopeless. She knew Jett waited for them at the drop off point. She began to sob heavily as the moments ticked by. Her life, their child… all of it… was… over. Kane leaned in towards her ear and pulled the hammer of the gun back.
“Pity…” Kane whispered into her ear as he dug the barrel into her temple.
“Enough…” a voice said in a calm, clear tone. It came from beyond the glare of the lights. “Let her go.”
While he kept the gun tight against Daniella’s head, Kane squinted into the darkness.
“Who’s there?” He asked. “Show yourself…”
In the distance, Daniella saw a group of silhouettes part and make way for a shadowy form. As it did, Kane turned the pistol towards it but still held her tight around the neck.
“Stop!” Kane ordered.
But the shape continued to close the gap between them until it last it broke through blinding halo of light into full view. The stranger wore a hood and as he spilled into their line of sight, he pulled it back.
“I told you… Let. Her. Go.” Jett said as his face emerged.
Kane nodded, smiled and with a single swift motion, he flung Daniella towards the ground. She squealed as she began to fall but Tricia scrambled to her feet in time to prevent it. Jett glanced over at Owen’s motionless body. His lip twitched in anger as Kane tossed his handgun to the ground.
“At last…” Kane sneered. “After all this time. The Conrad line ends tonight.”
“In your dreams you old fuck.” Jett snarled as he lowered his gaze towards him.
***
Kane laughed and before Daniella realized it, he dropped to the ground. His body began to buckle, heave, and seize as his limbs transformed themselves from the familiar to the otherworldly. As the change started, the assembled crowd spread out in anticipation of what lie ahead. Jett backed away and for the first time, Daniella witnessed the beginnings of his full shift into bear form.
“Come on…” Tricia said as she grabbed Daniella by the arm. As they stood, they helped Marilyn, Millicent and Tucker move out of harm’s way.
While they scrambled to safety, Jett stood tall and stretched his arms skyward. An immense roar emitted from his mouth as he fell forward to the ground with a thump. Within a fraction of a second, his body underwent a terrific transformation while at the same time Kane completed his. Their bodies shimmered beneath the glow of the lights. Medium-brown with light streaks along his stomach and legs, Jett’s fur stood in stark contrast to Kane’s jet-black coat.
Now thirty or so yards from the burgeoning battle, Daniella and the rest looked on as the two shifters squared off at last in their alternate forms. Immense figures of muscle, fur and anger, the great beasts held their heads low as they encircled one another.
With their hind legs, each kicked at the ground sending tufts of grass and dirt into the air. Daniella’s mouth fell open as she watched them engage in their prelude to battle. Several seconds passed as each waited and watched for the other to strike first. Low warning growls emitted from both of them as they paced in edgy anticipation.
Soon after however, each came to a complete stop and stared one another down. They remained still, eyes unblinking, transfixed and poised to pounce. Along with everyone else that watched, Daniella held her breath until at last, with a quick lunge, Kane leapt towards Jett.
The collision was swift, loud, frightening, and resulted in a sound that was unlike anything Daniella ever heard. Their immense skulls slammed against one another and as they did, the air crackled with sound from the impact. Powerful muscles rippled down the backside of each of them as they rammed into one another.
Post-impact, they stood tall on their hind legs, each clutching on to the other with their paws, and testing the other for strength. Locked together they moved in a vicious circle, each swatted at the other’s head with terrific speed until at last, they broke free of one another with a flourish.
Kane roared at Jett who returned the threat with equal intensity just before he leapt towards Kane’s neck with his massive jaws open and razor sharp teeth exposed. He managed a direct hit against the bear clan leader. Kane lost his footing and stammered back as Jett remained clamped to him.
But just as if it seemed Jett had the edge, he tripped and lost his bite against Kane’s neck. As he did, Kane swatted at him with his paw and Jett roared in pain as Kane's claws scraped into him. Jett’s fur darkened with blood as he continued past Kane. The momentum was enough to cause his right leg gave way and as he fell towards the ground, Kane reached up with both paws and slammed them against the top of Jett's head.
Jett roared and writhed on the ground as Kane rained blows down upon him. In a move of desperation, Jett kicked at Kane with his hind legs and knocked him off balance long enough to get up off his back. But the counterattack emboldened the older bear as he stood on his hind legs once again and roared. Disoriented from the attack, Jett shook his head and tried to regain his focus. Daniella noticed that he'd begun to breathe heavily as he retreated to gather his strength.
Kane dropped to all fours once again and pursued the younger bear. Jett whipped back around to face him and roared. As he did, his head turned from side-to-side and he bared his teeth in a show of defiance. Not to be outdone, Kane kicked at the ground with his back legs and returned Jett's growl with one of his own.
Then, without warning, Kane leapt at Jett again. As he crashed into him, Jett fell onto his back once more except this time Kane pounced on top of him. Jett kicked against Kane's hide with all fours but Kane was too quick and sank his jaws into Jett's neck. At the same time, he clawed at Jett's earlier injury and tore into it with even greater violence than before. Jett roared in agony as the tide of battle swung decidedly in Kane's direction.
For several seconds, Kane kept Jett pinned flat against the ground as he held him in place with his jaws clamped around Jett's neck. Jett flailed beneath the older bear until at last he managed to swipe Kane across the face with his three-inch long claws. As Jett sliced across Kane's eyes and nose, the bear's teeth broke free from Jett's neck just long enough to allow him to kick Kane off him.
Kane roared and lifted his paws up to his face as he fell away from Jett. He staggered back in agony. Blood spilled from his face and nose as he roared. Jett, visibly weakened by his effort, made a semi-circle back towards Kane. From Daniella's vantage point, he seemed disoriented and exhausted.
Kane's head dropped low as he looked at Jett and began to walk towards him again. As he approached, the younger shifter braced himself on a nearby dead tree that lay flat on the ground. Jett jumped up and down on top of the log with his front paws in a defiant display and roared as Kane neared.
Now exhausted himself, drool poured from Kane’s mouth as he closed the distance between them. Jett climbed off the log and turned back towards his encroaching adversary. Blood covered the fur of both of them as they once again faced each other head-to-head.
As the combatants circled each other, Daniella looked around at the faces of those nearby. Most seemed to be surprised by what unfolded on the field in front of them. Apparently, they were used to Kane making quick work of his challengers. Bloodied though he may have been, Jett seemed to be holding his own against the fearsome clan leader.
But just when his exhaustion se
emed to peak, Kane mustered a surge of energy and crashed into Jett. Caught by surprise, the younger shifter fell back under the force of the impact. Kane seemed revitalized as he began to tear into Jett with his claws and teeth. Daniella looked on in horror as more and more blood began to spill from him. Kane growled, roared, and tore at Jett’s hide for several minutes until Jett at last went limp under the weight of the assault. Kane roared and lifted his blood soaked claws skyward, as the young bear lay motionless beneath him.
“Jett!” Daniella screamed. “No!”
Without thinking, she broke free of Tricia’s grasp and started to run towards the melee.
“Daniella!” Tricia exclaimed as she reached out in a failed attempt to stop her.
Kane’s head swung back in her direction as he heard her approach. Daniella stopped in her tracks as the large bear turned towards her. His huge head hung low as he looked in her direction. For several seconds he stood deadly still and growled at her as blood dripped from his chin.
Acting on instinct, Daniella started to back away but Kane matched each rearward step she took. The faster she moved, the more he pursued until at last, she tripped and fell back, banging her head in the process. Dazed, she looked upwards and heard Kane roar once more as he drew ever closer. Frozen by fear, her breath palpitated in her chest as the shadowy figure of the bear clan leader draped across her body.
She shook her head and looked towards him. Now steps away, Daniella screamed as Kane’s black eyes drilled into her soul. The ground beneath her shook as he closed the final few feet between them. He stopped right in front of her and stood on his hind legs. He looked skyward and emitted a heart-stopping roar. Daniella covered her ears in fright as he bellowed. He looked down at her one last time and lifted a large black paw to strike.
With a final motion, he swung down towards her but just then a blur came out of nowhere and collided into him. Stunned, Daniella looked to her right as Jett’s bloody body smashed into Kane and sent him tumbling. The impact dazed the older shifter and Jett used the element of surprise to his advantage. In a fit of unbridled violence, he bit and slashed at Kane.
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