Trying to forget{open}

[Tamsyn Loup Garou]

"Don't." I whispered softly to the male at my right, his hands shifting from hands to wolf paws, trying to determine what was going on in my head at the moment. Staring past him, towards the river that ran through the clan, momentarily I was, lost in the waters surface, the pale coloring, shimmering to clear with fish jumping in and out, enough to sooth my worries. It was forbidden for me to be here. Just standing around would be enough for my father to call me a traitor. The Loup Garou were my family, the clan was my home. But my father was a challenger, hating Cole for his leadership and figuring he was the right wolf to lead. "Look, I need to find Cole. If my father found out." I bit my lip, refusing to think and instead shook, pulling my jacket tighter around my body. Staring around the clan I was well aware of all the looks I was getting, lowering my head I walked through until I came to a clearing, closer to the river which helped to calm me.

It seemed Cole was doing, whatever it was that Alphas did. "Let Syren, or Cole know I'm here. I'll be in the jungles." I walked, passing Lucy who was with Aimlyn, it seemed they were mates now, their closeness brought a pang to my heart. I would never have that, not with anyone in the clan. That was forbidden and I'd be slaughtered. Taking the main path, I didn't even bother to shift, instead walking by foot to the jungles, that alone seemed to take forever I just wasn't keen on going back home yet. My father was rich, powerful and a very cruel man. Out on business for another week gave me time to spend in the clan, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. How wrong I was. The moment I hit the jungle, I knew something was different. The musky scent hit me that I froze, a sneer lining my jaw. "Father." His larger frame appeared, and he wasn't too happy with his only daughter coming back to the clan, not when he was working so hard on taking Cole's place as the alpha.

"You little bitch. Running to the clan huh?" His tone was cold and rather cruel that I had to start laughing, couldn't help it even when I knew what was going to happen. "Cole? Syren? Anyone?" I called through, hoping one of the clan members would hear. Otherwise my life would end now. That look in his eyes was one of malice, hatred and murder. I knew that look, oh boy did I know. Staring without backing down, fur began to ripple along my back, claws sticking from my knuckles while I began to shift into my wolf form. It wouldn't save me for long, but it was better than being ripped to shreds as a human. Besides, as the wolf I'd be able to fight a bit more, and that was all that mattered. If I died, I wanted to go out fighting, protecting those I cared for. My father was not one of them. Reason why I hung around this long was to pass information to the clan, undermining his plans. As long as they were safe, if my father ever managed to lead the clan, they would most likely be wiped out.

[Timber Loup Garou]

I'd spent 3 fucking weeks without shifting, and I was about to tear myself apart. Xander was working with a few of the wolves, taking over my work with the females now that I was obviously pregnant. I rubbed my round belly as I sought out Nyta. Finding her before her hut, tending a steaming pot of tea, I smiled to her, inclining my head. "Good morning, Timber. Wanting to change are we?" I smirked. "Hey, I tried to hold back. But I can't stay human forever. I need to run." Nyta understood, hell, she'd known before I came to her that I was on my way. She seemed to have a 6th sense where others in the clan were concerned. Handing over a pale blue pouch, she spoke. "Here you are dear. You know the spell now. Have a lovely run." I thanked her and scurried off to the edge of the perimeter.

I shed my clothes quickly, already beginning to mutter the words that would change both my baby and myself, allowing me to run as the wolf without endangering my child. Swallowing the contents of the pouch, I drank down a handful of water from the nearby stream, and said the last few words of the spell that would allow us to change. The shift came easily, aided by the magick of the clan. Soon I stood on all fours, covered in red and black/brown fur. I shook myself, my front paws dancing. It felt so good to change after putting it off so long.

I wasted no more time and let loose, running full out through the brambles and brush. The wind slicked back my fur as I ran, tongue lolling out the side of my maw, ears laid back flat against my head. I ran for miles, but tired much quicker than usual due to the pregnancy. Finding a nice secluded spot of shade, I trundled over to it and flopped down on my side. Even as a wolf my belly was large. I lay cooling myself in the shade when I heard a call for aid. I knew the voice, but it was one I rarely heard. Tamsyn, a Loup Garou from her mother's side, was forbidden by her father to visit us. He was a werewolf as well, but not of our clan. Instead, he acted as Fenrir, challenger to Cole as Alpha. I rolled myself up, growling, and answered Tamsyn's call. "I hear you and I'm coming. It's Timber, Erato of the Loup Garou."

Skidding over loose soil, I scrambled to keep my balance, another thing that was considerably off since I'd become pregnant. Using my claws to gain purchase, I managed not to tumble over sprawling and raced back toward the Luna. I caught Tamsyn's scent, along with her father's and b-lined for her. Once I had them in view, I sprang, launching myself by kicking off with my rear legs. I landed squarely between her and her father, keeping my back to her as I snarled up at him. "By the laws of our Alpha, you are forbidden to enter our lands. Leave now, or be taken by force." While speaking to him, I called up the Munin, the ethereal wind they traveled on and simultaneously seemed made up of, breezed over my fur. The power of the Munin would call to all Loup Garou in our heirarchy, including Cole. Within second the entire clan would be aware that we had a usurper in our midst.

Xander would be furious to find I placed myself and out child in danger, but if the tables were turned, and he were carrying our child, he'd have done the same thing. Pregnant or not, I was still a Loup Garou, and Tamsyn was one of us. Half or not, she had more right than most to call herself Loup Garou. And screw her father for not liking it. I growled up at him, but spoke to Tamsyn next. "You are Loup Garou, and you are welcomed here. But he goes."

[Tamsyn Loup Garou]

I stared at my father, eager to shift fully to charge at him. Fangs lined my mouth, cutting against gum and my tongue as I ran it over the sharp canine fangs. "The clan is my family." I couldn't hold back anymore, sick and tired of what he did and his actions, pulling me away from my own heritage, it angered and sickened me, my muscles taut and ready to strike. Timber, the Erato, called back through the link, and relief flooded my body that I almost relaxed then and there. Instead I had to keep strong, not to back down. The dominant part of me had enough of being trapped, and ready to let loose. A snarl tore from my throat while my father chuckled, his hands in his pockets as if waiting for my move. "I fucking hate you." Eyes flashed from gold to pink, almost like Lucy's eye coloring, a flood of emotions tore erratically though me. He was the bane of my existence, stunting my growth and my own history, and frankly, I was tired of being his bitch.

"He wont leave without me. Trust me on that." I spoke, just as Timber finished, putting herself between me and my father. Peering closer, I saw her rather large stomach, and knowing what that meant I strode forward, putting myself between her and my father. I wouldn't let her, or her child, be hurt or killed because of me. "Don't be a hero Timber." I whispered, not taking my eyes off my father who seemed surprised at such an entrance, raising up his hands without speaking. Good for him, normally he wouldn't shut the hell up. "I know I am. My mother made sure of that when I was but a child. He wont leave." I knew that much, feeling his cold stare and from years of near perfect training, I lowered myself, knees bent as I knelt upon the ground, dirt sticking to my boots and the hem of my clothing trailed along the ground. He held such power over me, I wasn't able to shake that submissive part of me. "You should leave or you will be hurt."

Those words were aimed at Timber and again I snarled. "Lay one hand on her and-" Feeling his hand smack across my face, backhanded as I sprawled along the ground before a well placed kick hit my ribs, breaking one and cracking a couple. The air whooshed from my lungs and breathing became harder, like sucking air through a straw. "Let me kill him. Please? Do I have that permission?" I asked Timber through the link, knowing my father couldn't hear, he was not a Loup Garou, he did not have that ability. Thank goodness. Fingers scrabbled at the loose dirt, his hands grabbing my shoulders and lifting me to me feet. One hand around my throat while we stared, I struggled against his grip while he tightened his hand around my neck, slowly cutting off my air supply. My ribs ached, adding to the bruises along my stomach and hips, hidden by my clothing. Striking against his arm with my claws, his blood spilled forth, a yelp and he let me go, placing one hand to keep Timber from jumping in. I didn't want her to get hurt because of me.

"We cannot fight him alone." I snapped, holding my ribs with my left arm, placing pressure to try and stop the pain. "I will kill you bitch. The last time you ever go against me and I'll kill the pregnant whore." Well, it was mostly me being called that, what a surprise! Sneering, as much as I could manage when in pain, I struggled to stand without collapsing, "you, won't get far. This is my home, you are but an invader." Drawing on his own strength, he kicked me, my body sailed through the air and hitting a tree. Transforming more, my vocals could not take on the human tone, I howled as compensation, issuing my own challenge, to take down the one thorn in my side. Even if it killed me. "Go back Timber. This is my fight." The least I could do is keep her and her unborn baby safe. I wanted blood, I craved it. Even the pain dulled as I stared with unblinking eyes, ready to run, to strike.

[Cole Loup Garou]

The quickest way for me to travel from King's Pointe to where the Fenrir and his daughter now battled, with Timber pregnant and in the middle of the brawl, without shifting, would be to let the Munin carry me. Wasting little time, I harnessed their power, as they'd been called by Timber already, and was instantaneously transported to where they stood. I appeared beside Timber in a whirlwind. Striking her flank, I ordered her back to the Luna. "Go, the other's come." She stood her ground, defiant. But one look from me was enough to convince her I wasn't about to take flack from her now. Sulking, she turned and raced back to camp. Halo was nearing, as were others who'd heard Tamsyn's call.

Syren appeared next, her sleek white wolf standing tall at my side for a moment before she padded to Tamsyn, nudging the other wolf aside, placing herself between Tamsyn and her father. "You will kill none on our lands. The only death to be found here is yours." I turned to address Tamsyn, careful never to take my eyes from her father. "Timber does not have the authority to grant you permission to kill." It was purely a statement of fact, not a denial of her request, nor was it approval. "Fenrir, you have been named an enemy of our clan, and to persist against us will mean your death. Tamsyn is ours, as was her mother. You have no right to deny her a place within the clan."

Syren danced before Tamsyn, keeping her from striking at her father. She was injured and needed to heal before she could take another blow. "Tamsyn, by order of your Alpha, shift now and heal yourself." She would have to return to human form, then back to wolf to be healed of her injuries. The Fenrir came at me, but with the Munin still prevalent, I needed not to move to strike him back. I simply raised one hand and the Munin forced him back as if struck by a heavy blow. "You will leave our lands now, or die." Syren growled at him, echoing my statement as she guarded Tamsyn, allowing the younger to shift and heal. "Chose now Fenrir, before fate choses for you."

[Tamsyn Loup Garou]

A wind traversed through, ruffling my clothing and hair before the Alpha Cole appeared, my eyes widened as my jaw dropped open. He just appeared it was so incredible! He spoke to Timber before she sulked away, the scents of other wolves hit my senses, making me reel back, just the amount that came my way, but it furthered my own anger because to me, this was my battle, not anyone elses. He had killed my mother when she went against him, this was my fight, mine! Almost I snarled, the key word being almost. The submissive part was still showing, and my head lowered as I complete my change into the wolf, dark black with tan pieces through out, moving seamlessly with each color. The dress I wore was torn in pieces and hanging from my wolf body, and I wanted to whimper as it was a favorite item of clothing, but it could be replaced. Everything I had could be replaced, that wasn't important. What was, was my own revenge against the man in front of me.

I was aware of Syren, her white form like a ghost haunting the lands as she appeared beside Cole before coming my way, feeling the nudge as I blinked towards her, coiled and ready to spring, adrenaline still pumping through my system. I had to sever the link I had with my father, least he still have control over me and that was not a good thing. "I want him. He is mine." I replied to Cole's words, watching as my father glared at me with such hatred, which I was far used to so it didn't exactly bother me. "No, the little bitch is mine. She is my daughter!" Almost dancing upon my paws with anger, if Syren hadn't been in front of me I would have launched myself at him, as it was, my head and half of my front body tilted forward, paws struck the earth ready to help me push off if needed. Only one thing I could do and that was snarl, a low, growl that ripped through the air, making him stand back and stare at me with a new light. Good.

"He gets no say! He killed my mother, he shall die!" I virtually screamed, losing all control of my emotions, sitting back on my haunches and lowering my head, hating the fact I was ordered to shift. It wasn't like I could go against the Alpha. Fur changed back to skin as I focused, my father calling me every name under the sun as my human form appeared, melding out of the wolf body. My ribs were not as sore, and the bruises along my stomach and sides were lighter, but still noticeable. Squirming away so I didn't have to see the others looking, mainly at the faded bruises, not because I was naked, "I have chosen for him. He is mine. I've waited many a year to do this." I demanded, not wanting to be robbed of the chance. My mother died from his hand, it was fitting he should die by his daughters hand. Easily shifting back, I shook my pelt, the remains of the dress falling to the ground before stamping a paw on the dirt, spraying loose dirt backwards, almost like a bull ready to rush.

[Syren Loup Garou]

Cole's alarm caught me by surpise as I dropped off Arya with her mother. Nodding to Midian as he passed, I shifted and allowed the Munin to carry me to my husband. Tamsyn and her father had arrived near the Luna. She was welcome, one of us by her mother's side. He, however was not. He was instead named Fenrir, challenger to the Alpha, and his presence meant trouble. Moments after Cole had appeared, I arrived, moving over to Tamsyn and nudging her with my muzzle. Anger rolled off her in waves, directed at the man who was her father. I paced before her, keeping her safe for the moment. She was injured and needed to heal. As Cole spoke with the man who was his enemy, he also bade Tamsyn to shift and heal. Timber had been the first of us to arrive on scene, and Cole quickly sent her away. I knew she must be hurt and angry over being sent away from an impending battle, but she was with child, and we would not risk both her life and the life of her unborn child.

"Easy, Tamsyn. It is Cole's fight too, as your father challenges him as Alpha." I pressed into her, when she completed shifting as Cole had bidden, comforting her as well as making her hold her ground for the moment. A low and menacing growl tore from my jaws as I regarded the Fenrir. "Daughter of yours she may be, but she is child of mine as well! For I am Lupa, mother of all Loup Garou! And you will not take her." I narrowed my ice blue eyes at him, challenging him to attack either us or Cole. Either way, he would die.

Howls errupted in the jungles as Halo and a battilion of Loup Garou charged in. Halo took his place behind Cole, the others further behind, some shifted, some human. They formed a perimeter around us, as if in war. The Fenrir would not escape. "You wish to fight, and I understand that Tamsyn. Let Cole have his say. This battle is for him. But the killing blow will be yours." Having recently returned from killing Amanda's family, I knew Tamsyn's dilemna. She'd suffered at his hands and wished to end his life. Just as Amanda had suffered under her parents. Though Amanda was truly mine and Cole's, we'd been robbed of her, as she had us, by Zane's magick. If the Fenrir and Zane were to join forces, we would have 2 powerful rivals of the clan, and I could not abide that. Zane's time would come, but here and now the Fenrir stood before us.

Pressing myself even more heavily against Tamsyn, I watched as Cole prepared to force the Fenrir to shift. Cole may not be recognized as his Alpha, but the power weilded by an Alpha cannot be denied by any shifter, especially with the Munin present. "Prepare yourself Tamsyn, your time will come soon." Power rippled through, touching every Loup Garou standing watch as Cole commanded the Fenrir to shift. "By order of the Alpha of the Loup Garou, by the essence of the Munin, witness to all here, I command you, Fenrir, to shift and show the wolf within!" His voice carried over the trees, reached into each of our hearts and touched our spirits. Though greatly opposed to changing on Cole's command, the Fenrir had no choice in the matter. He either changed, or Cole would force him to shift, literally tearing his wolf from his human skin.

[Tamsyn Loup Garou]

Dipping my muzzle to the ground, whimpering and bouncing upon my paws, just itching for the impending battle, nuzzling into Syren both for comfort and to stop me from doing something incredibly stupid and dangerous. Cole was my Alpha, I had to trust him for the moment while the battle began, he knew what he was doing, I had to have faith. "That is true." I muttered, knowing that Syren was right and further pushed into the silent facade when she spoke, looking upwards at her so fast my neck clicked, sending a wave of pain through my head and throat. Now I lowered my body to the ground, virtually lying upon the dirt as if embarrassed, not knowing anything in regards to that until Syren had spoken. My father seemed, less then thrilled being spoken to like that, his eyes narrowed, not at me but at the Lupa. "She is not of your blood." His sneer made me want to snap, grinding my fangs into my upper lip, causing it to bleed.

"You have no claim over her, not by blood. You think you can be her mother huh? You never will be. I doubt she wants you either." I growled coldly. "You don't know what I want. Robbed of a mother as a child because of you." He thought he knew me, he thought he raised me as his own perfect warrior. Think again! Just as I looked between the Alpha, Lupa and the Fenrir, other wolves of the clan joined, their scents powerful in the air, magick shimmered like a sweet aura that made my father tremble. Mick, the Duke, moved up to take his place next to Cole, his eyes blazed with fury. "Syren takes those under her wing, all they had to do is ask. Being a mother, is who she is, part of her personality. There are many who call her mother, who are adopted by the Lupa. Tamsyn is no different. If she needs a mother figure, Syren is the perfect one for that. She does it because she cares." Cole had made the perfect choice in a mate! Mick spoke the truth, I could see the others, humans and wolves, nodding their heads.

Nicholai was next, his smooth, slender frame darting through the treetops. As an enforcer, he wasn't quite needed in a one on one battle like this, but he would lend his energy if needed, especially after the battle. My Topaz amulet hummed, and my father didn't know what to do. I myself, swayed on my feet, feeling the cool winds course through my fur, still next to Syren while we played the waiting game, to see what his move would be. "I have to do the finish blow. I have to. For my mother." It was all I could give her, my own little piece of mind, even though she was in the munin, all around us, it would still be my gift to her. Staring ahead, keeping with the clan like I had, my alliance was to them, my family, not this werewolf that was supposed to be my father. If he wasn't cruel, then different story. If he didn't kill my mother, I would have sided with him. It was his own fault his downfall was coming.

My fur rippled as power washed over, Cole commanding my father to shift, it was, scary and awe-inspiring. I really hoped I never became an enemy to the clan, this was pretty surreal. As I stole a glance at the others, Mick standing without fear next to his Alpha, ready to assist in anyway he could my father growled, before shifting himself. Tawny fur, brown specks and white splotches through his fur as his human form gave way to his wolf. I snarled, moving forwards before being stopped, my Topaz warm against my skin, warning me not to move. "I really hope I never get into that position." I whimpered and yipped, cuddling into Syren and shutting my eyes. Silence seemed to fill the area, but not for long. As his own growls and barks escaped his jaw, his challenge open, having nothing else to lose, he jumped and launched himself towards the Alpha. "Cole! Careful, hes been improving his techniques. Hes going to go for the neck!" One thing my father was stupid enough in doing, and that was letting me know his plans. Good for us though.