Wolves and Men

“That is what we now believe,” answered Derceto.

“Forgive me for asking, Elder” Charles said quietly. “But how does this story help us to understand what we have just seen from the vampires and their ability to seemingly exert their will over our wolf brethren?” he asked.

Derceto cocked her head to the side. “After this singular incident we stopped getting reports of dominated wolves, anywhere. There was still plenty of wolf hatred from the humans. It could be that the vampires just chose to stop using wolves and let the humans deal with them. They were doing a fine job of it by themselves. It’s possible that the seeds of hate and misunderstanding had been planted and so the vampires didn’t need to do anything. Since that time, we have not had a single recording of vampire dominated wolves. We had begun to believe that this was an ability lost to them, much like the recently rediscovered Scout Sight, was believed to be lost to our kind.”

“So, you were wrong…again,” said Nicolas flatly. The Elder started to snarl but quickly smoothed her features.

“What difference does it make if it is a rediscovered ability or whatever? The fact that they can do it again is disturbing. What are we going to do about it, and what does it mean for us? And more over what does that mean for Ansuya? She’s been gone too long. I volunteer to take a hunting party to go look for her if that’s what it takes!” said William.

Derceto looked at the young Enforcer, “You’re right, William. That is the question. maybe we can look to our past and not make the same mistake that our ancestors made. It is either by desperate need or confidence that they would show this ability now, just as we are starting to rebuild our own power base and take back some lost ground.” The elder took a deep breath, “as for Elder Ansuya, that is business that you don’t need to concern yourself with.”

“Oh that is horse shit!” William exploded expressing emotions that he would never had admitted were real until just then.

“You have gained in skill and reputation, but compared to me, you are still pups. Ansuya and I and the rest of the Elders have the situation in hand. Don’t think to outplace yourself from your position.”

“The young are allowed their passions, Derceto. You were no different.”

The six of them whipped their heads toward to sound of the new comer’s voice. Standing in a doorway was the City’s Elder Scout Huan Li. “There is much to be learned from past mistakes and even our past assumptions. And having concern for the citizens of the city, regardless of circumstances is one of our strengths.” He said this with a pointed look between the Elder Tracker and William. Derceto nodded to the Elder Scout as Aceso made a small bow toward him.

“What? So, this means that vampires are going to use wolves to attack our city? Just like the City under the Clouds?” asked Nicolas who for the first time sounded genuinely concerned.

“No, Nicolas I don’t think so.” replied Huan Li easily. “I’m not saying we should rule out the possibility, all things are possible, but I think it rather highly unlikely that should happen. What I believe this means more than anything is that they are desperate. I don’t think they would have uncovered such a tool if they weren’t ready to use it.” He looked at Derceto, “We must be very cautious for the time being and seek to find out exactly what it is our parasitic adversaries are planning.”

“What do you wish of us, Elder,” Aceso asked formally.

“Nothing,” Huan Li replied flatly. “You have done what I have requested of you. I suggest you all get some rest.” He said the last with a friendly smile as he and Derceto left the five of them standing alone in the Tower room.

William rushed after the two Elders, “Wait, what about Ansuya? Doesn’t this mean that she’s in danger? She couldn’t possibly have known about this before she was taken, we have to find her,” William pleaded.

Huan and Derceto shared a look.

“William, you are allowed your passions, but we do know what we are doing. Ansuya is exactly where she needs to be. I will say nothing more and wont tolerate further discussion.” Huan smiled softly, “we have been doing this for quite a long time and we do have a pretty good understanding of our enemies.” With that Huan patter William on the shoulder and walked away.

Dejected and with else better to do he returned to his pack.

“Did that feel really odd to anybody else?” Katherine asked.

“Yes, it did,” Charles answered. “The Elders have always been a bit cryptic and Elder Derceto has always disliked you,” he said nodding to William. “So why all of a sudden has she chosen to tell us this history which I don’t even think you knew,” he said looking at Katherine.

“I don’t know,” Katherine answered shaking her head sending her long brown hair flying to either side of her face. “Tyche never even hinted at such a history or that Sages were the cause. I guess he didn’t feel I was ready or…something”

“That’s not important right now,” William interjected. “If the vampires are going to use wolves against us, that means, no matter how confident Huan Li is they could use them to follow us back to the mountain. We have used the outside entrances plenty of times. And it doesn’t matter how well hidden the door is, if you know where it is you will eventually find it.”

“Even if it takes a knocking thrush and a well-timed sun beam,” said Charles smiling.

William smiled at the literary reference. His smile faded quickly though as his mind turned back to their encounter, and Ansuya who was still ‘missing.’ The wolves had been working for or with Kenneth and it so happened that the city had sent him and his pack to go and scout out this development project. He didn’t believe in coincidences and the more he dealt with vampires the more he knew that eventually he and Kenneth would have to come face to face again. A meeting that he was going to ensure the vampire didn’t survive.

“What is it?” Aceso asked.

“Yeah, you went away for a bit there. Are you ok?” Katherine added.

William shook his head and smiled at the group, “Yeah, I’m good. I was just thinking…”

“About Kenneth,” stated Charles.

“Yeah, him,” William answered slowly. “He has been on my case since before I came to the Mountain. And we seem to keep crossing paths. Now he shows us that he can control wolves. Does this mean that he can also control people?” he tried but he was sure he couldn’t cover the anxiety in his voice.

“I wouldn’t put it past them, Will,” replied Katherine. “Although that’s a thought I never wanted to think about. What if he is doing the same thing to Ansuya that he proved that he can do with wolves? Will she betray us and lead him into the city?” That statement fell like a bomb into the room and left nothing but dead, stunned silence in its wake.

“We have to be prepared for anything,” said Aceso softly, placing a claw on William’s shoulder. “The Elders knew what they were doing when they sent you two and Ansuya out hunting for Kenneth. Ansuya knew the risks and she is an Elder after all. If nothing has happened yet, I have to believe that Elder Ansuya is still fighting and she is probably working on her own plan to escape as we speak.”

The upbeat message of Aceso’s speech did little to remove the dark pall that hung over all of them. The idea that an Elder, Ansuya, would lead their enemies into the city under the Mountain was unthinkable and yet it had just been shown to them that vampires were capable of such things. William left the Tower room with a heavy heart and if he could see through rock, he imagined that he could see the coming storm and the destruction that would be left in its wake.