Chapter Text
14 YEARS AGO
NIGHT OF NO STARS
The night of the Bloodmoon came once a year, a full moon every fall season that harbored horrific monsters in its ungodly crimson light. The island was left blanketed in a red glow, rivers, ponds, and oceans bodies of blood in appearance. It was fitting, a stage set for the abominations that infested the island like a colony of fire ants.
The Meeting Cave was cold, crisp, ruffling the fur every wolf inside. Total of 8: a Regent, a Councilor, three Alphas, and three Vanquishers. All sat at a triangular table, snug from the outside world, the horrors that lurked.
The three Vanquishers, one from each pack, were stationed beside their respective authority, their enchanted weapons at the ready and their eyes locked onto the door of the cave with steely gazes.
A lioness of a she-wolf was a blaze of passion at the table, her paws planted firmly on the wood as her bangles clinked and jingled with every extravagant motion of her ranting.
"Your tunnels were broken into with such ease!" she had been growling, her eyes focused on a dark furred Calyxi adjacent to her, the Councilor. "Your forces are a joke—"
"Our forces are more than capable!" the Councilor snapped back hackles raised and her glasses glinting in the light of the lantern on the table.
"Laika," sternly said the large albino right beside her, antlers protruding from the deer skull on their face and adding to their already imposing size. "My sister in arms, please."
Laika looked at them with creased brows and pinned ears, and with a murmur replied, "Да, [1] my Regent."
The regent looked over across the table to the blazing sand colored she-wolf who was still bristling with a critical glare.
"Our forces are steel, Alpha Mmamoriri," the regent stated, their pale eyes locked onto the Eremis. "A breach in our caverns is a tragedy, but no one is at fault. To slander our units is unbecoming and childish."
"Yerik," butted in the Eremis beside Mammoriri, his tanned pelt bedazzled in snake skin and scales. "No less than a year into your rule and your caves have been invaded. What of your infantry? Have you replaced Vanquishers?"
"I've yet to replace anyone, Alpha Rattlesnake, everyone lived," Yerik retorted, keeping their composure against the barbs. "This, simply put, was an incident I do not wish to happen again. What we should focus on is the fact that it was a hoard of demons in the attack."
"Your reports to my healers did note of a swarm," the last alpha finally commented, looking at the regent. Either she ignored the glare the Eremis gave her, or she didn't notice it. "Guards and Vanquishers with multiple wounds, all of different variety."
"Not to mention the trainee," Laika commented quietly, directing her attention towards the Silvan and ignoring both Eremis Alphas as they glowered.
"This—"
"Polar Eclypse's trainee," Yerik said, cutting Rattlesnake off, "went missing for an hour. Returned to the entrance with—"
"A gash on their chest and a missing ear," the Silvan alpha cut in, turning her gaze towards the regent. "Showed signs of struggle. Still under psychological observation in my healer's."
"Да, [1] Alpha Swawnpey," Yerik rumbled. "The worst of the attack: a trainee being hauled off by a demon."
Laika turned her head and huffed at the Eremis, as if gloating. "We had no casualties."
Yerik nodded, looking to Mammoriri and Rattlesnake. "Our trainee returned to us."
"A breach is still a breach," Mmamoriri growled, leaning back a little. "Your caves are unsafe—Your infantry is weak. Your rule is weak."
Laika bristled, slamming her paws on the table and snarling, "Ты, блятная сука! Я возьму твою голову за это!" [2]
There was an outcry amongst the Meeting Cave as Mammoriri reared up and snarled back insults, Rattlesnake at her side.
Yerik bristled, rising to their paws and nudging Laika away from the table. The Calyxe and Eremis Vanquisher rushed to their respective authority's side, blocking their view of the other.
"Laika! Laika!" Yerik yelled over the shouting. "Прекращайте это!" [3]
"You are weak!" Mammoriri shouted, tail stiffly wagging from side to side as her lips curled back. The Vanquisher held strong despite her powerful regality and prowess, blocking her view of the Calyxi. "Your packs are weak!"
Alpha Swawnpey was appalled and backed from the table, the Silvan Vanquisher quickly rushing to her side to block the commotion. Yerik continued to calm Laika, and much to his frustration, Rattlesnake attempted to soothe Mammoriri's fiery outburst, though only for a minute.
The pair of alphas made for the door, Vanquisher on their tail. Mmamoriri paused, causing both Rattlesnake and the Vanquisher to halt. She turned and glared between the other leaders with a growl: "Your forces lack strength and order! Hell will fall upon you unto there is nothing left of your pelts! You've guaranteed your own damnation! The devil dogs are coming for you!"