FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

First and foremost this needs to be said. The characters in this work of fan fiction are of course copywrited by me. The characters in this work are based on characters I played or created in various forms from White Wolf games Werewolf, mage and vampire role playing games are of course copywrited by White wolf games ltd.. As is the term Gangrel and a few others in this work..

This story of course never happened to any actual living person and but most of the places do exist here in my hometown of Dallas Texas.

I Gangrel

By

Wolf421

Where to begin? Always with a story there is a beginning. Some say that fate is a cruel taskmaster. Not really cruel, but can be really hard at times. I had thought that fate had thrown every cruel joke it had at me over the thirty plus years of my life. But I was wrong, boy was I wrong. I had survived many things in life just as we all have colds, car wrecks, mugging even getting hit by lightning, and even prison. After so many events had tried to take my life at one point or another, surviving by any means necessary came like breathing air to me. Now the only question is: Could I survive my own death.

Many years ago I found out about a world out there, one that most mortals don't even have a faint idea of its existence. A world full of all the things that go bump in the night, things that rational adults would run from in abject fear if they ever saw the truth of what really goes on. But really most people like to keep their heads in the sand and not think about what happens behind the scenes at the white house or in a dark alleyway. Ignorance is bliss at times and a curse for others. But hey that's the way life is.

I had just made it to one of my favorite clubs in Deep Elem. an area just about a mile east of downtown Dallas. I had just pulled into the parking lot and got the truck parked; the truck was on loan from a friend. Kayla hopped out of the bed and held the door for me to hop out and I was spotted by some friends heading to their car. John noticed me first and headed my way; Dee Dee a.k.a "Sarah Dedra" and Jeffery, Dee Dee's younger brother in tow. I waved and double checked my hold on Kayla's harness as we stepped out from behind the bed of the truck. Dee Dee noticed Kayla first a look of surprise on her face as she stopped dead in her tracks; and stammered.

"Oh my god, it's a horse in wolf's clothing."

John and Jeffery stopped behind her, neither of them had seen Kayla before and was evident by the looks on their faces they didn't know if to stay and talk or run away.

"Hey y'all leaving already? I just got here." I said to them.

"You know how it goes bro; got to have money to drink; emphasizing his words by rubbing his thumb and index fingers together." said John.

"How you been doing Howard? Haven't seen you around in some months." Asked Dee Dee not taking her eyes off of Kayla.

Seeing where her gaze was;

"Don't worry about Kayla here, she won't bite, I've been better, could be worse though; still having trouble with my eyes and some other things, doctors don't have a clue what's going on hence why I have Kayla here." I replied.

"Hey, dude you know they don't allow wolves to be pets." Jeffery said.

He was already drunk; I could smell the beer on him five feet away.

"Kayla here is not a "pet" she is fully trained for service and has the government stamp of approval, imported straight from Dublin Ireland where she was raised." I replied.

"But how in the world did a low income, wrong side of the tracks, white boy like you rate getting a service dog like that?" Asked Jeffery his voice slurred from too much beer.

My anger rose and I tightened my grip on Kayla's harness; not to hold her back but to keep me from doing something besides running my head.

"John do me a favor will ya, take Jeffery home before something happens to him." I said in a cold voice.

Just as Jeffery started to say something; Dee Dee turned and pointed to the car.

"Get in the car Jeffery or else!" she said with a look that meant it.

I watched as Jeffery turned and without another word headed toward John's car like normal, happens every time he gets drunk.

"Sorry about that, he must have sneaked a couple extra drinks in tonight." said Dee Dee.

"You really need to get some help for him; sooner or later someone will tear his head off with that mouth of his." I responded.

"How did you get her really?" John asked somewhat suspiciously.

"Well I all that I can say is that Kayla is part of a breeding program to bring endangered species back from the point of extinction. And my house was the first placement of her species here in America." I replied.

"So Howard you're turning from a late night rocker; into a government employee?" Dee Dee asked.

"I wish, and then at least I could pay my bills." I said.

Just then the sound of someone tossing the contents of their stomach reached our ears. We all turned to see Jeffery hanging his head out of the car window spitting.

John grimaced, "bro we got to go before my backseat gets plastered by Jeffery. And heads up the band on stage sucks tonight, can't play for crap."

I watched as they climbed in John's car and left. And Kayla and I headed to the door of the club. The church is one of the better locations to get to see some of the newest bands on the scene, or even some older ones like Prince and even Metallica. But alas tonight was not one of those nights; some new age band was on the stage at the church. The church is one of the hottest clubs in Big D, But also it's the only fully Goth club in Dallas that's worth going to. Well as me and Kayla entered the club one of the bouncers tried to stop us but was waved off by Derrick the head bouncer who knew me. The late crowd was coming in and the place was filling up fast; which meant a drink or two and it would be time for us to leave.

One thing about Kayla is, she is huge as far as wolves go; "bigger than an Irish wolfhound and twice as heavy". This caused the crowd to part like the red sea in the bible, as we headed over to the bar. Kayla as usual was on her best behavior, she didn't nip anyone tonight as we walked through the crowd. But that didn't stop the people from starring or pointing fingers at us. Hard to believe that just a year ago I was fighting along a side some of the best fighters on the face of Gaia, and now four months after recovering from a near fatal lightning strike. I was just a guy with an extra large wolf for a service animal.

"Hey Danny give me a JD and coke" I said to the bartender, dropping a fiver on the bar. In less than a minute I was heading over to a table and taking a seat. When I saw Ted heading my way, he is one of the bouncers for the club and came over to the table I was sitting at and sat down. Ted had tried to give me some trouble in the past. And I really didn't like him, but hey to each their own.

"I'm not here to cause any trouble tonight Ted, just stopped in for a drink." I said holding up my drink.

"Good, but that's not why I'm here. I'm playing messenger boy for the boss." Ted said tossing a piece of paper on the table in front of me.

"What's this?" I asked picking up the paper.

"I don't know, Mr. Castile sent me to give it to you. Try not to hurt anyone tonight, will you." He said as he left.

I sat the note down on the table and took a drink of my JD and coke. Picking up the note I, looked down at Kayla.

"What do you think this is about?" I said over the den of the music.

And plain as day she looked at me with a look of concern as if thinking about it.

"Don't ask me, I haven't read it and neither have you." The voice said in my head.

And no I'm not a nut! If that's what you're thinking. Kayla is a very special breed of wolf, one that most humans think to be long gone from this world. Kayla is a dire wolf, with a number of abilities that would shock most people, like talking, cooking, and even answering the phone.

"Well I just had better read it." I said unfolding the note.

As I unfolded the note, a card fell out on the table. I picked it up and looked at it. The card was a visitor's pass for the private area upstairs. Many questions were forming in my mind, but no answers. So I read the note.

Mr. Smith.

Please be my guest tonight at my table in the private section.

Sarah....

I didn't see a last name on it, but I did know of a Sarah but she never is up in the private section. Like me she can't afford the price of membership to that exalted area of the church. After all she had just left only a few minutes ago.

"Come on Kayla." I said as I got up grabbing my drink.

Her voice in my mind.

"Where are we going now? I thought we were going to stay a while before going home." Kayla asked.

"Upstairs is where we are going." I said holding up the pass.

Kayla fell in step with me her big white fur-covered body pressing against my side, my left hand grabbing her harness. At the stairs to the upper level a couple of the bouncers were on guard duty tonight.

"Where do you think you're going? Asked the one on the left.

I held up my pass for him to see. He looked at the pass and then checked it against a clipboard he had their hanging on the wall.

"Before I take you up let me tell you a few things, First off when you get upstairs keep your eyes down cast to the floor, we have some clients here that don't want their faces seen. Two anything you hear up there is none of your business and better stay up there. And three, don't speak unless someone asks you a question, and then refer to the rules one and two if you have any doubts. Now come on." He said walking up the stairs.

I followed him the best I could, with my eyes on his heels the whole way.

At the top of the stairs we went through a door which was closed behind us by another bouncer I guess all I saw of that one was his feet. The noise from the club became muffled as the door closed behind me. The upper level was soundproofed to my surprise. Low voices became hushed as Kayla and me where lead down a walkway between the tables. And to a booth I guess on the back wall.

"Your guest is here, madam." said the bouncer.

I heard the sound of a curtain being opened.

"Ah, Mr. Smith please take the seat to your right." An almost whisper of a voice said to me from the left.

I took the offered seat and remained quite. With my eyes on the table edge in front of me, I waited. The curtain closed behind Kayla who had lain down next to my chair.

"I see Robby had the forethought to inform you of the rules up here, which is good of him. May I call you Howard? I hate being so formal." Said a soft voice.

"Yes by all means. I said in almost a whisper.

"I had hoped you would show up here tonight Howard. I really would have hated to come to your house for our first meeting. You may look at me if you wish, I won't bite." She said with a laugh.

I looked upon my benefactor for the first time. I saw a woman in her early twenties with black hair and wolven eyes, and a figure that would make Venus jealous. She had to be the most beautiful woman I had seen in my entire life. An enchanting beauty about her that said "in capital letters, Look at me.", the super model type. And made you want to just stare at her. Realizing that I was starring I forced my eyes down to my drink.

Kayla's voice came to me. "She's a leech, and so is most everyone up here, be on your guard."

Downing the drink and trying not to be rude.

"I am just a little curious why you invented me up here?" I asked her.

"I wanted to meet with you. You're a very interesting person, a survivor like me. None I have had the pleasures of knowing over my life have survived a lightning bolt hitting them." She said taking a drink from the goblet in front of her.

As the goblet came away from her lips, I saw her tongue licking the last drops of blood from her lips. Catching me looking she nodded. As the goblet was sitting on the table a bottle in a hand appeared from below the table and refilled the goblet, and quickly disappeared below the table as quickly as it had appeared. I was shocked to see that another was here hearing our conversation. Seeing the look of concern on my face.

"Don't worry about my servant here, won't say a word about anything we discuss." She said a sly smile on her lips.

"Is that the only reason you called me up here to see for yourself the guy that survived getting hit by lightning?" I asked.

"No, that's not the only reason I wanted to meet you, you have let's say a unique outlook on life, one that even one such as I can respect. Your life has been very interesting. I have read every file about you that the state and government has, over the past couple of weeks as they have reached me. Even the reports from your teachers in the fourth grade, which in its self was an interesting read but flavored with personal thoughts about you. I like to judge people on their individual merits." Sarah replied.

"Sounds like you did a background check on me, considering me for a job or what?" I asked.

"Something like that." She said.

As if on cue the hand of her servant placed a file on the table.

"Now this file on you is one the government would be very interested in, but wouldn't believe a word of it if they had it in their hands." She said placing a hand on it.

"Like I said you have had a very interesting life Mr. Smith, or should I call you Fatal Wind?" She said.

Every warning bell in my head went off at once, she knew a part of my past I didn't think anyone but very few knew about, let alone had a file on it. Kayla's body tensed up at my feet, her voice in my head.

"I'm ready to fight and die with you, if we must. How could she know about your being Garou?" Kayla asked me.

"I don't know I thought, but let's not make any aggressive actions yet; this one could probably kill both of us very quickly." I replied to Kayla.

"I see my little surprise has shocked you, I thought I made it clear that there's not much that I don't know about you. Yes I even know what Kayla is, though most mortals wouldn't believe that one such as her exists. I even know what effects the lightning bolt had on your body. All of it right here in this file that a friend of mine got from the Garou council, they unlike so many others keep very detailed records." She said patting the file on the table with her hand.

"So you know about my other unofficial life, one that I don't care to discuss. Let me inform you of a few things. First I know what you are and that the majority of the others around us here tonight are vamps. Second, if you meant to kill me or Kayla you would have already done so. Third, you have gone through a lot of trouble to find out about Kayla and me. Which means you're after something else? Now what could that be?" I asked.

She nodded her head, "You're far more perceptive than I gave you credit for. Yes, it's true most of those around us are Kindred. And actually killing you is not an option at this point. It was no trouble to find out about you. I have many friends that can get any information I want. My reasons for asking you here tonight are simple. I wanted to take a measure of you more than what the files say about you. A file can only tell what is written in it, does not tell the true person that lies behind the eyes. I have been watching you for the last month since you and Ted had the fight in the parking lot. A fight if I recall correctly that you won by using honorable tactics; while "Ted" on the other hand fought using every dirty trick in the book and still lost." She replied.

I nodded to her words in agreement.

"And because of that fight "Ted's" master deemed that you needed to be watched. She said.

"His Master?" I asked with a questioning look.

"Yes master, Ted looks to another kindred that I know and is his ghoul.

"I wondered why he seemed stronger than he looked." I said.

"Because of this you attracted my attention and that of many others; some that witnessed the fight besides me. I have watched you from afar for some time, even shadowed you in your nightly romps in the woods near your home, and watched as you and Kayla experienced each other in the most of intimate of ways. And even watched you sit on your patio at night crying over your lost life. I am rather impressed that you did notice me once in a while." She said letting her words hang there.

I was alarmed by what she had said and tried not to show it but it came out in my voice. And all the times I had thought I had seen someone came rushing back to me.

"You've been spying on me for how long?" I asked.

"Don't be angry, it's a standard practice for my kind to watch those we feel are a threat to us. But you're not a threat at this time. It's also standard for us to watch those we are thinking about offering the embrace to." She said.

I was shocked this time to the very marrow of my bones. My drink that had been refilled at some point was downed in one gulp. I sat speechlessly for some time, my thoughts racing along many paths and over the many answers I could give to this information. And also to the many questions I had. And no sooner than my cup hit the table it was refilled yet again by that hand from under the table.

I sat there looking at my cup for some time before Kayla nudged me.

"It's late love, we need to go home." Her voice in my head.

Looking up I found that Sarah had left at some point, and a card had been placed on the table in front of my cup. I picked it up and read it.

Howard, I can give you only 24 hours to make your choice, but know this there are others very interested in you among the Dallas court. Some that doesn't have your best interests in mind; if you know my meaning, some of them even deadlier than my offer. Feel honored most of my clan are never given the choice. If your answer is yes show up here tomorrow night and come to my booth, the bouncers will let you up here. Sarah.

I put the card into my pocket and took hold of Kayla's harness.

"Let's go home Kayla." I said.

We drove home in the beat up truck that was on loan to me until I got back on my feet again. Unaware of the car some way back was following us. The lightning bolt had not only put me on extended leave from my job at the pizza place, but had racked up some heavy debts. We drove in silence, nether one of us wanting to talk. Once home I sat down on the couch Kayla lying down next to me, her head in my lap. We sat for some time in silence. Before either of us, said a word. Let me clear up something Kayla and I don't actually talk to one another, at least not in public, we have what could be described as a telepathic link. One that allows us to understand what the other is thinking. During the time I spent with the Garou I learned many things. Something's I wanted to and others I didn't. One of those things was a better understanding of the lupine's body language. Another was a fact about me that I had buried long ago. I loved to be with canines than have the company of another human. I looked down at Kayla who was napping, scratching her behind the ears she looked up at me.

"I don't know what I should do. If I decide not to meet with this Sarah tomorrow night she will take that as a no. And then some other kindred might take a closer look at me. And one that may not have our best interests in mind; like Sarah had informed me." I said.

"Which would be a bad choice, some kindred don't take well to being told no? Even in the roundabout way of not showing up." Kayla said.

"What's bothering me is how she got all the information on us? I let the question hang there for a moment before going on. More to the point, how did she find out that I used to be a Garou?" I asked.

"Well she did say that she had been watching you for some time, she jumped out on a limb with you tonight and put a puzzle together and eventually figured it out about us love. But I do think you need to call Mariah about this, she might have some idea of why the kindred are interested in you." She said.

"That would be a good idea, but look at the time. (It was almost 4:30 a.m.) She'd have my jewels hanging from her rear view mirror like fuzzy dice of the 70's, calling this late." I said with a chuckle.

Kayla looked at me with the most curious expression on her lupine face.

"Fuzzy Dice? What are those?" She asked.

"I'll tell you later about them." I said reaching for the phone.

I started to dial Mariah's number when the faintest sound came from the bathroom. Kayla's body tensed up and she slowly got up from the couch looking toward the hallway. I put the phone down and reached under the side pillow for the tanto that I hide hidden there. Not that it would do much good against some kindred. Kayla started to head for the hallway but I waved her back.

"You can come out now; we both know you're there." I said looking down the hallway. A figure came from the shadows chuckling.

"I be dammed how, did you know I was here?" Said Leaves no tracks.

Kayla relaxed as I did when we saw who it was.

"Damn it, Leaves no tracks, you almost ended up with my tanto shoved up your arse." I said, emphasizing my words by holding the tanto so she could see it; replacing it in its sheath.

"And since when do you come in by the bathroom window?" Kayla asked her, a little peeved.

"Since you've got some eyes out front watching your house; black Crown Victoria with two kindred in it by the look of it." she said.

I was somewhat shocked by this.

"We're being watched? I saw no one when we got home." I said.

"You're both are still young and haven't the experience I do." She said dropping into the old recliner.

"I wouldn't lean back." I started to say but it was too late the recliner tipped backward and promptly putting Leaves no tracks on her back.

Kayla laughed.

"She does it every time she comes over, thought you'd start remembering about that chair after the third time it dumped you. Guess it's true. You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Kayla said.

"Old who you calling old?" Asked Leaves no tracks, getting to her feet and setting the chair back up.

We all started laughing then, releasing the tension in the room.

"So what does the kindred want with you?" Asked Leaves no tracks.

"I should have expected they would be watching us; especially after what happened at the Church tonight." I said.

"What happened? Nothing bad I hope." Said Leaves no tracks.

"I got approached by kindred tonight; she threw an offer on the table for me." I said.

"She offered you a job, or what? Don't leave me hanging here pup." Said Leaves no tracks.

"Yeah, I guess it could be taken as a job, but one that would cause some problems for me; one that would cause me to leave all that I know; and have known for my whole life." I said.

"She told my mate here that there is some Kindred looking at him for the embrace. But that's not the half of it; she had the council's file on Howard. Which I would like to know who in the nine hells gave it to her." Kayla said.

"Let me get this straight, she offered you the choice to become kindred?" Asked Leaves no Tracks.

"Yes she did, but that doesn't mean that I am going to jump at it." I said.

"Look I just found out that your file was given to the prince of the city over a month ago." Said Leaves no tracks.

I looked at her shocked by what she had said.

"Why in the world would the council give my mates file to the bloodsucking prince of the city for?" Kayla asked.

"During your time in the hospital a lose treaty was made between the council and the prince. In my view it's just another attempt by the prince to get our guard down. The treaty allows for an observer into the kindred court for the first time. The council chose ten kinfolk for the job, you being one of them." Tracks said.

"And if I don't want the job?" I asked.

"Well here's the problem. The council sent me here to speak to you tonight about just that; the other nine declined the honor for one reason or another, and that leaves you to be the Garou ambassador to the court." She said.

It went deadly quite in the room then. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I lost it then and went off on Leaves no tracks.

The same council that on their orders I had gone above and beyond in service to them and to Gaia. And then after the lighting strike had done its work on my body, and robbed me of the best thing that had happened in my life i.e. my becoming a Garou, they had turned their backs on me and Kayla as if we were dead to them. So what if I couldn't shape shift anymore, my senses of hearing, taste, touch, smell and sight where stronger now than ever, but the best of them was my sense of smell which was as good as Kayla's. And even stranger yet was the fact that I still felt like a Garou in mind and heart although not in body. I lost some abilities I had as a Garou but had gained some because of the lighting strike. I still had my knowledge of them, the training I had received, and of the truth about the world.

I looked at leaves no tracks.

"They might as well as pronounced me dead two months ago and now they want me to put my life on the line again? For what, so I can keep an eye on what the kindred are up to and report back to them. Look around you Leaves No Tracks, if it wasn't for help from some churches and other government programs Kayla and I would be out on the street right now. On top of my nosy neighbor next door, that tries to get the pound out here once a week to have Kayla picked up. I've got notices from bill collector's from as far away as New York City wanting to get paid. On top of having to appear in court next week behind the same neighbor, with her paranoid delusions that Kayla is out to kill her along with the rest of the neighborhood. And now the council in its Divine wisdom wants me to go into the lion's den for them just so they can find out what's happening in the prince's court. The day they had my name entered into the silver record as killed in action I was dead to them. And now all the sudden I'm alive and well and they have another mission for me. Yeah right, I need this like I need another hole in my head." I replied anger coloring my voice.

"Leaves No Tracks, don't take me wrong. You've been my teacher and one of my few friends. But you can go back to the council and tell them what I do now with my life is my business and to take their mission and shove it up their fur covered asses. Now I would be grateful if you would leave it's been a long night." I said walking toward the bedroom.

I heard the back door open and close a short time later as I came out of the bathroom. Kayla had probably apologized to her for my behavior. Kayla came into the room and climbed into bed with me.

"You came down on her when she didn't deserve it mate. Leave No Tracks was almost to the point of backhanding you for what you said when you came back here." She said.

I stroked her fur, wishing I could change and run with her again, tears running down my face as I silently cried for what I had lost, and for what I had gained. Sometime later I woke not remembering when I had passed out. The smell of bacon and eggs and fresh coffee drifted in from the kitchen, causing my stomach rumble in protest. I headed to the bathroom and relieved my screaming bladder, then headed to the kitchen. As I walked down the hallway the events from the night before came rushing back to me. I could not believe that I had gone off on Tracks like that. As one of my former teachers at the cairn (fancy name for home of the Garou) she would have been well within her rights to beat me half to death for my impertinent mouth. I'm Glad she didn't; I couldn't have stood up to her in any way. For all the training I went through I would have lost a fight with her in a minute. As I walked into the kitchen Kayla was placing the food on our Japanese style table, which was a normal table I had sawed the legs off on so Kayla could eat comfortably at the table.

"Good morning mate, you slept late for a change; Too much to drink last night?" She asked as I sat down on one of the throw pillows.

"Good morning mate and no I didn't drink too much last night." I said reaching for the cup of coffee (which I wasn't supposed to be drinking, Doctor's orders.)

I started to reach for the sugar cup but remembered that I was not to take any sugar ether; almost lost the tips of my fingers as Kayla snapped at me.

"Hey, I just wanted a little to keep the coffee from being so bitter." I said checking the tips of my fingers.

"You're lucky I let you have that cup you have in your hand after what the doctor told you." Kayla said.

"True but you wouldn't throw out my coffee I would become a major jerk in less than a day." I said.

"You go head and turn into a jerk and you'll find your manhood hanging in the den from the wall." She said with a wolfish smile on her face.

"By the way you missed Mariah, she came by and dropped off a box for you, said to tell you that the council would honor your request to be left alone. She wasn't too happy when she heard how you talked to Tracks last night." Kayla said.

"So I'm supposed to be at the council's beck and call whenever they suddenly have a use for me?" I asked.

"No, but you do owe her an apology; she didn't deserve you taking your anger out on her. She was concerned about you when she left last night. Said that you do what you have to. But she'll be there when you need her." Said Kayla.

I finished off my eggs and bacon, and watched as Kayla picked up the dishes and placed them in the sink for me to wash. Let me explain Kayla, she's the most intelligent wolf I have ever met. Unlike other wolves Kayla is very special; mainly it has to do with her breed. That being a dire wolf long thought to have vanished from this planet almost a thousand years ago. Her race had been smarter than normal wolves; they hid themselves away from mankind and had waited for the right time to come out of hiding. Her intelligence is on par with a normal teenager of 16. This means that not only does she have the ability to speak and comprehend the complexities as well as the inflections of the human English language, like a normal human, She can with difficulty, due to lack of hands, do human tasks like cooking, cleaning, and everyday household management in short everything we take for granted. Well except when we are out in public. Boy that would cause uproar, and I would be locked up quick out in the nut ward. Kayla would be captured and renamed experiment 569 by some government scientist that doesn't care that she has a human level of intelligence and well you get the idea. Kayla is what the Garou call kinfolk, like me now that I can't shape shift anymore. Kayla is almost a Garou, she has the gene that causes one to be a Garou but can't shape shift because the gene is in the off position. But here's the funny thing about the Garou, two Garou can't mate because it causes birth defects in the offspring. Now a Garou and a kinfolk can mate with no problem and so can two kinfolk unless their brother and sister or close relatives etc. She is able to do anything a teenager is able to do except for maybe drive the truck. But even then I would take a bet against her not being able to do it. After the dishes were cleaned and drying, Kayla and I got into a game of tag. Which ended with Kayla chasing me down in the backyard; we heard a scream from our next door neighbor and got rewarded by the sight of her running into her house. She was deathly afraid of Kayla, which we found rather funny. Not that Kayla would hurt her unless she provoked her. Thus rewarded with our daily game of taunting our neighbor we went back into the house. And went looking for this box that Mariah had dropped off for me, I found the box by the front door. Opening the box I found some of my stuff that I had left at the cairn, with a file with a note attached to it in Mariah's hand writing. The note said please read on it so I took the note and file to the couch to read, Kayla joining me there.

The note read; Howard, I understand your feelings about the council and what they are asking you to do. They do not ask you to accept the embrace; all they ask of you is for you to be their eyes and ears for them in the kindred court and report on what you witness. Some would view it bad enough just being around the leeches others would view it as a death sentence. Also your duties would include being the council's voice in the court on matters that involved the Garou. The file I have placed with your stuff has the treaty in it and all information you should need if you take the job. Signed Mariah...

"Well if that isn't a hell of a note! The council has gotten Mariah in on their idea that we would take this highly unusual assignment, even after what I told leaves no tracks last night." I said, looking at Kayla.

"They are offering you a great honor love; I understand that you are bitter but that is no reason to turn down this assignment. That would cause us dishonor. Never in my knowledge of Garou histories has the council ever empowered a single person with what they are proposing. This action is unprecedented; it's never been done before. I have heard that the kindred court is a paradox, both leaving one board to tears one moment and the next moment several kindred end up losing their un-lives due to such stupidity that it's laughable. We actually might find glory and honor in this assignment, the glory coming from the fact that you might have to fight to earn the courts respect the honor coming from the council's trust of us and our abilities. The kindred are like the Garou in one respect, they don't trust those that are not of their own kind, hell they don't trust each other. They are resistant to change so this treaty is going to be on real shaky ground for both sides until the elders of the kindred and Garou accept it. While the younger kindred and Garou will be more accepting of this treaty, as the young will be raise under this treaty and hold no biased views and will not have known of the bitter wars between the two races. In light of all this, give this assignment a chance and don't dismiss it out of hand. There's a time to think with your heart and a time to think with your head; this is the time to do both. But don't let your anger and bitterness or any other negative emotion cloud your judgment. The prince of the city has his or her work cut out for them; this path is long and hard." advised Kayla.

A knock on the front door interrupts our talk; I run to the door and look through the peephole. Just like I had expected it was the dog pound, called once again by my somewhat paranoid neighbor. Well I opened the door for the third time this week.

"Well, well, well if it isn't the Dallas pound out of their jurisdiction once again." I said.

"Sorry to bother you, but we got a call about a dog attacking a man at this address." The city worker said.

"You must be new on the job? I haven't seen you out here before." I said.

"No sir, I just got moved from the Oak Cliff office to the Pleasant Grove location." He said.

I looked at his name badge; Phil was the name on it.

"Well Phil here's the rundown. I'm part of a new government project here's the paperwork on it with all the permits and licenses required by the federal and state governments." I said handing him the paperwork I kept near the door just because of my neighbors phone calls. I watched as he looked over the paperwork, he then pulled out his cell phone and called the pound.

I watched as he took the paperwork out to his truck and talked for 5 minutes before he brought it back to the door.

"Sorry to have bothered you Mr. Smith. All the papers and licenses are in order. Is it true that you have a wolf here?" He asked.

"Yes, and she won't hurt anyone that I know of." I said.

I walked out to the truck with him and sure enough as he climbed in my neighbor came out of her house and started shouting at him.

"What you're not going to pick up that wolf, their dangerous animals I tell you. I saw them myself attacking a man in the back yard an hour ago. Next thing they'll be out and attacking women and children in this neighborhood and eating them. That wolf is evil I tell you, devil spawn is what they are." My neighbor shouting at the top of her lungs.

"Hey listen up lady my wolf has never hurt anyone that I know of nor will she. Now why don't you go back to your sewing or something and leave people in this neighborhood alone for a change." I said.

Phil got out of his truck and walked over to her. I couldn't hear what was said but whatever it was she didn't like it. She started shouting that she was going to take it all the way down to the state capital in Austin and get the wolf taken away from here.

"That one defiantly got issues, and not with just you or your wolf if you know what I mean." He said as he climbed into his truck and started it.

"She got a real bad case of the old 1950's horror flicks stuck in her head, and thinks that everyone around here is evil. Heck she even called me evil when I went over there to talk to her. She was telling me that it's all a conspiracy going on, that everyone in this neighborhood was out to get her. That men in black were sitting outside watching her last night getting undressed through the window. Crazy shit you know what I'm talking about Mr. Smith." He said.

"Yeah reminds me of my ex she was so bad that it took a lightning bolt to wake me up to that fact." I said.

"Well Mr. Smith I'm going to send this in as a false alarm and head on to my next call. You have a good day." He said.

I waved as he left and went back inside the house.

"I see that she called the pound once again, when is that woman going to learn?" Kayla asked.

"I doubt that she ever will she's not right in the head." I said pointing to my head.

"She's one of the reasons my kind went into hiding from humans. Always thinking because we are a different from her that we can't feel emotions like humans, that we are evil because of the form we are born with. Mine, being lupine and totally different from humans." Kayla said.

"Well I guess I'm just different than most people because I see the beauty inside and the real you. Not just fur, fang, and claw, I see everything about you that other's would miss because they can't see beyond the fur." I said.

"And what if you were still the man you was two years before the change took you now?" Kayla asked.

"Well, I know that I wouldn't condemn you just because you're lupine. And actually I would probably be more inclined to look on you as a friend, even if I didn't know everything that I do about you." I said.

"There's more to it than that, and you know it my mate. You just haven't gotten around to telling me." She said.

"There are parts of my past that I can't speak of love, I've told you that before. Just rest assured love that I will tell all someday when I can." I said.

"So what are you going to do about the meeting tonight at the Church?" Kayla asked.

"I don't really know, I've not given it much thought until you brought it up." I said.

"I heard that some kindred can change their forms like Garou and other abilities not unlike the gifts of the Garou." said Kayla.

"Until our meeting last night with Sarah, I had never realized that the kindred look like normal people and not monsters like BSD's and some of the other races I've seen in the last 2 years." I said.

Kayla looked at me with one of them funny lupine looks her head cocked to one side.

"Mate I think we need to talk about this offer from her real seriously, weigh the pros and cons as humans say." Kayla said.

I dropped down on the couch and Kayla joined me there.

I thought for some time before saying anything. I looked at Kayla.

"If I decide to take her up on the offer, what would become of us?" I asked.

I watched as Kayla got up from the couch and started pacing back and forth. Ten minutes passed before she spoke to me.

"Where you go I follow. That was my vow to you when we got married at the cairn. I meant it when I said it then and nothing has changed in over two years of marriage. Even if I'm nothing more than a ghoul to you I won't leave you for another." She said.

"Mate come here and quite pacing." I said holding my arms out to her.

She came to me and placed her head upon my shoulder, my arms wrapping around her neck. I held her tight afraid to let her go.

"We have stood side by side and face death together countless times I'll be dammed if I'm going to stop now." She said.

I ran my fingers threw her fur remembering the first time I had felt it; soft and silky smooth with the smell of the woods. She had won a challenge the day before, and much to my surprise, it was over me. I had not been with the Garou for very long at that time so I was more than a little naive. A whole new world was there for me to learn about. Along with a new culture with all the nuances that come with it. I was lost in uncharted waters for all that it mattered. The Garou are more than human, but also more than animal. A mix of the two, werewolves if you care to call them that, and I wouldn't say that to one of them face to face they can be rather picky about how they are addressed. Hey, when nine feet of fur, claws and fangs ask for respect they get it from me. Anyways, Kayla had won this challenge over me the day before. That evening there was a big meeting of the elders and most of the cairn. That's when Leaves no tracks came over to me and informed me that one of the cairn members had chosen me to be her mate. When I started to object to this Leaves no tracks told me to shut up and listen. I was told that with the Garou this was the normal and as a member I was obligated to at least meet her and talk. If nothing else happened then we went our separate ways. Now at that time I was like a child learning how to talk, lupine is not hard to learn but the body language can get rather complicated, Especially when it involves watching the body and listening to barks and growls and putting the two together to form an understandable language. That night at the meeting Leaves no tracks introduced me to Kayla, and we hit it right off and the rest is history. Coming out of my reflections on the past.

"Look mate that's what this path is that I am being offered. Death of my mortal body, being made a blood drinking un-dead nightmare in human form, I put it coldly. To the Garou I'm already dead and gone, the only reason they still talk to me is because of you my sweet. If I turn her offer down another will approach me or will just take me, with the possibility of you and/or our unborn pups getting hurt or killed, that I could not bear. At least with her she might not mind us staying together or who knows allow me to ghoul you." I said.

"I wonder if we can make her a counter offer?" asked Kayla.

My thoughts and heart raced with her suggestion.

"Like what?" I asked.

"You offer her a contract of sorts." she said, and continued to outline her idea.

1) You my mate agree to be her child until she releases you. She allows you to ghoul me in secret.

2) She is made aware by you that the Garou council wants you as its eyes and ears in the kindred court of Dallas with me in attendance would be a status boon for her.

And others of the court would notice question how she was able to not only acquire a child but a known kinfolk in the process. In short we are a package deal, both or none at all and we take our chances with the next kindred after her.

3) And as that I don't have to sleep during the day I can be not only your protection during the day but hers as well. If she wishes it of course, also I can work as her eyes and ears and alert you or her to possible danger.

I looked at Kayla for a minute before speaking, astonished not only by what she had thought of but by how complex and well thought out it was.

"Sounds like a good plan to me; I can try it and see what happens." I said.

With that said Kayla got up and through her tail up over her back exposing herself to me, my breath caught in my throat and my heart raced as I realized that she was aroused. Through she was already pregnant by me some six months ago and her belly almost hanging to the floor her being a dire wolf unlike regular wolves can mate whenever they wanted to. She turned her head and looked at me her thoughts coming to me; catch me if you can, she said taking off down the hallway. I jumped up and chased after her as her tail disappeared into the bedroom. I strained my ears for any sound of her in the room as I reached the door. I heard the creek of the door in the room that leads into the study. Ah she was trying to flank me and come out of the study as I entered the bed room; not this time I thought and turned back the way I had came just in time to see her bolt across the hallway and into the bathroom. I ran to the bathroom door and was startled by her as she tried to go between my legs; which for a dire is no easy task because of her size, larger than a full grown malamute. My nuts almost paid the price as she dove forward between my legs, luckily I was able to shift my weight to one leg and raise the other in time otherwise I would have caught her alright; with my privates just not in the way I wanted to. Tag your still it; her voice said in my mind as she ran back into the study. I turned and chased after her; she ran back into the bedroom from the study. At the door I caught sight of the tip of her tail disappearing into the walk in closet which she claimed as her den. I closed the door to the study and headed toward the closet. I crouched down onto all fours and slowly approached the closet aware that she was watching me; I had her trapped and she was not going to escape this time. As I reached the closet door she charged at me all 250 pounds of pure muscle. I made a grab for her neck and a foreleg as she slammed into me looking for a handhold; the force of her charge knocking me onto my back. At first I had thought that she was going to charge right on over me but found out differently as she came down on top of me, holding me to the floor. I tucked my chin down against my chest protecting my neck as I had been taught by leaves no tracks. She then began to lick and gnaw on any part of me that she could reach with her mouth not hurting me but playing. I squirmed under her trying to get away, she whipped her tongue across my face a few times then jumped off and away she went for the door. Laughing I jumped up and chased her back down the hallway. In the living room our couch took yet another spring board attempt as I jumped on it and over to try and catch her; I was able to grab her tail and holler tag as she tried to dodge me. I let go real quick like and dove over the back of the couch landing on my side and rolling up to my feet and took off down the hallway full speed. Her voice in my head.

"No fair you grabbed my tail!"

As I dived into the bedroom I started for the study door but changed my mind and ran for her den; grabbing the remote to the stereo as I passed the nightstand and hit the power button before entering the closet. From the radio music filled the room and covered any sound I might make. With in seconds she was at the door looking for me, I watched as her ears turned trying to hear me over the radio. I charged out of the closet and she charged me; we met on the bed and circled for position. She would try for my legs so I went to all fours across from her smiling. In school I had been on the wrestling team so "all fours" was old hat for me to fight from. We clashed in the middle of the bed her up on her hind legs and me on mine, we both dove in at the same time going for each others neck. She embraced me with her forelegs; my arms wrapped around her chest behind and below her legs.

"Tie!" she said and the tip of her tongue flicked out hit me on the nose.

"Alright a tie it is." I said.

And hugged her tightly and started dancing to the music on the radio. I was happy and glad that she had chosen me over the others almost two years ago at the cairn; some of the females at that time looking for a mate where although very acceptable but just to radical for me. One such female looked at me like I was a side of beef "that just sent shivers down my spine", and another I overheard say that I would look good in a spiked leather collar with a leash attached. Later I found out that she was some "kindred" that was allowed in the cairn and I was told to stay away from and not to ask any more questions about her. Slowly we dropped onto the bed together still holding each other; I ran my fingers through her fur as our tongues found the others. I felt her breath quicken as my hand found one of her nipples and cupped it and massaged it softly. One of her paws dropped from my shoulder lightly trailing claws across my chest, causing a shiver to run through me. She pushed me back causing me to lose my balance and I landed on my back. I watched as she slowly began to torture me by teasing me with tongue fang and claw on my erogenous zones on my torso. She worked slowly on my chest and belly; her claws leaving trails of red welts that stopped at the top of my shorts. She teased my nipples with her teeth and tongue causing them to stand firm and traced my honor marks with her tongue. She pawed at my shorts trying to get them off, I popped the button for her and she promptly pulled them down with her teeth; my cock free of the shorts stood up. A shudder ran the length of my body as her hot breath flowed across my cock and balls. I reached out with my hand to stroke her breasts nearest me; they are heavy with milk ready for the coming liter of pups due in a matter of weeks or even days. A flick of her tongue across the head of my cock causes me to suck my breath through my teeth; my hips thrust upward in response. Her tongue teased the head of my cock and then wrapped around my shaft; and began gently stroking me off. I run my hand down her breasts back between her hind legs searching for her vulva to find it just out of reach; knowing what I am after she turns her flanks toward me. Her vulva finds my hand as she moves; I rub her lightly teasing her sex before sliding a finger into her wetness. Finding her clit already swelling with her own arousal I rub it softly, a small shudder goes through her body. With genital pressure I guide her flanks toward me until she is standing parallel over me. Lifting my head I take her breast into my mouth and run my tongue across the nipple then nurse from her. Her mouth replaces her tongue as she starts sucking my cock; a moan of pleasure escapes my lips. Her clit is hard from my rubbing it; her juices flowing from her vagina onto my hand. I lower my head from her breast and pull my finger out of her, and lick the juices from my hand. The taste is strong and musky but sweet as the night I first tasted of her at our first mating in front of the council. The intoxicating effects of her juices compel me; I left my head to her and taste her nectar dripping from her slit. I shove my tongue into the folds of her sex seeking her clit which I rub sending shudders through her body. She stops sucking on me and releases my cock from her mouth as her orgasm takes her; I am rewarded by a mouthful of her juices which I swallow reveling in the taste. As her orgasm subsides; she pulls away from me and jumps off the bed holding her tail high.

"Is that all you got? Now come and take me like a real Garou would." She said her tail in mating position.

Getting to my feet I walk over to her my throbbing cock jutting straight out. I step behind her and take her hips in my hands and lower myself so my cock is at her slit and then rub the head in her juices. Slowly I press my cock until it enters her, her body shakes with a small orgasm as my cock presses against her clit and a whimper comes from her muzzle. I feel her vaginal muscles wrap around my cock as I press forward fully entering her. She whimpers in pain and ecstasy her vagina stretching to accommodate my girth. Slowly I began to thrust into her each thrust rubbing on her clit and her g-spot increasing her pleasure. I watch through half closed eyes as her body shakes with each thrust, her head hangs low as she starts painting. Suddenly her body tenses up her vaginal muscles clamp down on my cock as the orgasm engulfs her. Rapidly her muscles clamp and release on my cock increasing my pleasure, her juices flow lubricating her vagina. And some of her juices flow down onto my nut sack and drip onto the floor. I slow my pace; I want this to last as long as I can make it. She's starting to shake, her orgasm is coming; and so is mine I realize as my nuts start drawing up, my own orgasm rapidly approaching I began thrusting in earnest, long hard strokes. Each thrust harder than the last, each pushing us both to a major orgasm. She raises her head as her vaginal muscles clamp down on my cock a low long howl comes from her muzzle. My load fires deep into her as I roar my orgasm with her howl. Afterwards I lay my torso and head on her back as my cock pumps the last of my seed into her my arms wrapped around her belly. We stay there like that until my cock withdraws from her trailing some of my seed with it. Slowly I slide off of her and lay down on the bed; she joins me there pressing her body against mine. I wrap an arm around her and slowly lick her muzzle. She in turn licks my face, as we both drop into a light sleep.

An hour or so later the doorbell rang and I had to rush to the door. It was the mailman with a package for me; I signed for it and told him not to work to hard as he left. Closing the door I looked at the package to see who had sent it. The label read that it was from one of the many dog food makers wanting me to test their product on Kayla. It had labels stating frozen meat keep cold all over it. Kayla comes walking down the hallway.

"Hey can't a pregnant girl get some sleep around here." she said."

And sticking her nose to the package and sniffing it. Which I was rewarded with the sight of her twisting her nose up and sneezing, ugh!

"Smells like someone puked in there!" She said, blowing air out her nose.

"Hey don't knock it until you try it." I said placing the box on floor in front of the couch and sat down.

Kayla hopping up next to me. I got gabbed in the side by the file with the treaty in it, picking it up I looked at Kayla.

"We really need to go over this it might make Sarah tonight change her mind." I said.

"Box now, treaty in a minute; someone sent me something." Said Kayla acting like a child at Christmas.

I looked at her.

"You just said that it smelled like someone puked in it and now you can't wait for me to open it." I said in a teasing tone.

"I still want to know what it is." she said as I pulled out my tanto from under the couch pillow that doubled as a box opener.

When I started cutting the box open the foulest odor I could imagine wafted over me, my stomach tried to expel breakfast and Kayla buried her nose between me and the couch.

Muffled voice of Kayla; "Get that horrid stuff out of here!" from behind me. Not wasting any time I did just that by taking it out to the trash can. On my way back to the house, I went back and pulled the envelope from the box.

"These people where getting a phone call today and not a nice one". I tore open the envelope to find no invoice; but a typed note.

Which read; Mr. Smith you and your overgrown dog are not wanted in this area, get the hint and leave. And just encase you think of calling the cops or someone else don't. We will be watching you. Not signed by anyone.

I was way beyond mad, I was pissed off and I was going to find out who sent this trash to me; just to send them to jail if I could; I made up my mind real quick and headed to the house. Once in the house I grabbed a trash bag and one of them paper breathing masks and headed back to the trash can; and put the mask on and removed the box from the can and into the trash bag, which I carried into the garage and left it in the bed of the truck. With that done I headed inside to call the post office to get some information about the package; my thinking was I had to sign for it so someone wanted a delivery conformation on it. Well after almost ten minutes on the phone with the postal investigator for Dallas County, she was coming out to my house in an hour to take pictures of the box and its contents. I went and got my camera out of the study to take pictures of my own when she did.

The next call I made was to my contact at the wildlife department which made sure that Kayla's paperwork was in order and had her placed with me. The phone rang four times before James picked it up.

"James Spalding United States Wildlife Department, how may I help you?" James said in the monotone voice of a governmental employee.

"Mr. Smith from Dallas Texas, here; I've got a problem." I said.

Worry in his voice, "what kind of problem?" James asked.

"I got a package in the mail today, don't know what's in it and really don't care to know, just it stinks to high heaven and a threatening note." I replied.

"What did the note say?" James asked?

I read him the note.

"Have you called anyone besides me?" asked James?

"Yes, the postal inspector for Dallas County; she is on her way here now to inspect the package." I said.

"Well I told you this might happen when I found out where you lived, some nut case that thinks a wolf is a dangerous animal that still needs to be shot on sight more than likely." said James.

"Well the only nut around here is the lady next door that has the whole neighborhood hating her James." I said.

"I take it that you have had some trouble out of her?" asked James?

"Yes, so much I have to go to court next week over some charges she dreamed up; just trying to get me to move out is what she wants, so she doesn't have to move out. Her house falls within the rezoned area around my house and she was notified that she had 60 days to move out after the rezoning was approved and that was 45 days ago." I said.

"Give me the date and time and court you're to be at, I'll do my best to be there if I can or someone from my office will be." James said.

I gave him all that he wanted.

"Now do yourself a favor, stay low and out of any type of trouble that can cause the department to pull your approval on this project." said James.

Before I could say anything else he hung up.

Kayla looked at me.

"So now what do we do, hide like a rabbit and hope the hunters don't find us?" she asked.

"Right now we wait for this lady to show up and look at that package, and while we are waiting for her let's look at that treaty." I said.

Kayla walked over to the couch and picked it up and brought it over and sat it on the table. I opened the file and we both read it page after page until we was finished. They "the council and the prince" made sure that it covered everything they could think of from a to z and all points in between. The treaty in short form; the kindred and Garou of Dallas County would be under a live and let live, scratch my back and I scratch yours policy. Also the treaty allowed for the Garou to select one to be their ambassador to the kindred court under full protection of the prince, not bad if you trusted the prince "which I didn't, heck I don't even know the bloodsucker". My big problem and Kayla's; was that we can't take on the whole lot of them if this thing went south on us, our lives would be on the line every court and then some, protected or not. I went and made us some food to eat while Kayla looked over some of the treaty again.

"What are you reading now? " I asked, placing a plate on the table.

"The stipulations on embracing and making a ghoul of a Garou, it's actually well written." She said.

"Well are you going to keep me hanging here or you going to tell me." I asked.

Kayla responded.

"One: a Garou must have at least three offspring that have been found to be Garou in order to be embraced. Two: A Garou or kinfolk can be ghouled to a kindred in the court with the prince and councils approval if said individual asks for it with the understanding that it may lead to the embrace of the person in the future." Kayla responded.

I thought on her words for a minute before speaking.

"That explains why this Sarah was so hot to trot and invites us up to the private section last night at the church, she knew that we were chosen by the council for the ambassadors position at the court, but what would she gain is the question we need to ask." I said.

Kayla had a mouthful so I took a bite of my sandwich and waited.

"True, she might be after the status it would bring her; then again she may just want you for your fighting ability, she did seem impressed." She said.

"I think there is more to it than that, too many questions and not enough answers for the questions." I said.

"Not much is known about the kindred courts except more than rumor love even the Garou have questions about them, not that any have the courage to attend one to find out though. Kayla paused for a second and then continued. Except us that is, on the orders of the council of course; not that I like the orders but I will accept the assignment." Kayla said.

"I kind of thought you were going to say that, I can't even now after all that has happened turn them down, it would be a dishonor to do so." I said.

When I reached for my sandwich on the plate I found it was gone and scowled at Kayla and knowing where it had gone. She looked at me with her big grey eyes a wolfish smile.

"I thought you were finished, if you want it back I can regurgitate it for you or just wait a day or two until I have to take a shit again." She replied with a teasing tone.

"You smart ass pregnant bitch, you just wait I'll get you later." I said.

"Yeah right if you can't see me you can't find me." She said and ran out of the room.

"I don't need to see you to find you I can smell you from outside the house; it's time I gave you a bath." I said chasing after her.

Well it ended up with both of us getting a bath, her because she needed it and me because she made sure I got soaked in the process of giving her one.

And sure enough as we had just finished our bath together the doorbell rings, and like a mad man I have to run and grab my robe and then rush to the door. The postal inspector Miss Dean, had finally arrived.

"Sorry that I'm late, I had some trouble finding your street. The street sign is missing down at the corner and then the house numbers are missing also, how strange." she said.

"Well the city took the street sign down last month after the rezoning of the area and as for the house numbers those disappeared on day when I was gone. I must apologize to you Miss Dean, normally I don't answer the door in my bathrobe, I just finished giving Kayla a bath and unfortunately she don't like water to much." I said.

"That's alright I understand, I have a dog that can't stand baths either. Mr. Smith you called and said that you had received a package today with some undetermined contents in the box that smelled real bad, I need to see the package if I may." She said.

"Right this way it's out in the garage in the bed of my truck, but I do warn you now you mite want to wear something over your nose it smells pretty bad whatever it is." I said as I lead her to the garage.

I watched as she put on a face mask like I had done before and then start taking pictures of the box and then opened it and took a couple of pictures of what was inside, afterwards she closed the box and walked back over to me.

"Mr. Smith may I see the letter you got with the box." she asked?

"Sure come on back in the house and you can look at it." I replied.

Inside she took the letter from me and read it not commenting on it until she was through reading it. I excused myself and ran to the bed room and quickly put on some clothes and then went back to the dining room.

"I would say by the looks of it someone is trying to run you out of here, any ideas of whom mite be behind this?" she asked.

"Well right now the only one I could think of would be my neighbor next door, she has been causing a lot of trouble for me in the last two months since she got notice that she had to move." I said.

"If you don't mind me asking Mr. Smith, why does she have to move?" She asked politely.

"The square mile around my house has been declared wildlife preserve by the government for an endangered species of which I am the first licensed breeder of in our country. And because of the area is now a wildlife preserve; the government bought out all the homes in this area so it can be fenced off from the public. But she has refused to sell or move out; she's even filed a bunch of bogus charges with the court downtown on me trying to force me out ever since the area was rezoned." I said.

"And when is the deadline for her to leave?" she asked?

"She has until next Friday to move, after that the federal marshals will come in and more than likely forcibly move her out or arrest her on trespassing charges and then move her belongings to storage until she can claim them." I said.

"So do you think she would do something like this?" she asked.

"People will do many things to protect what they own or think they own. But I don't put anything past anyone now days, the world is pretty messed up." I said.

"So what species are you going to be breeding here?" She asked.

"I have the honor of breeding dire wolves." I replied.

I watched as her expressions changed from not comprehending what I had said to that of shock and then to one of questioning.

"Dire wolves; I - I've never heard of them, are you pulling my leg?" She asked the look of disbelief on her face. "

"Actually I'm not, Dire wolves do exist they prefer to stay hidden from mankind until recently. I continued, dire wolves are more intelligent than normal wolves like the North American timber wolf; they went into hiding centuries ago when they realized that mankind needed to, say grow up a bit before they approached us again." I said in a non-joking tone.

"Mr. Smith you can't actually expect me to believe that there is a race of wolves that have remained hidden from us for centuries; let alone that they have intelligence above that of a normal animal." she said.

"Whew I thought you had disposed of that already; I can smell it in the living room." said Kayla walking into the garage.

I watched as Miss Dean jumped, taken completely off guard by Kayla's entrance, let alone that Kayla was speaking English. Miss Dean turned to face Kayla and was shocked by what she saw, and started backing away. Kayla rolled her eyes and spoke again.

"Sorry didn't mean to scare you like that, I'm just tired of smelling that whatever it is inside the house." said Kayla.

Miss Dean had worked her way around me and to the other side of the truck by then; and was fumbling with the snap on a pepper spray bottle on her belt.

"Miss Dean no need for the spray, this is Kayla." I said wrapping my arm around Kayla's neck as she approached me.

Miss Dean still was trying to get the spray bottle out when Kayla spoke up.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Dean I'm Kayla Wind-dancer; and I'm not a threat to you or anyone else for that matter." Kayla said in her nicest tone of English.

I watched as Kayla's words sunk in. Miss Dean stopped messing with the pepper spray, and then it hit her that Kayla was speaking to her.

"You're able to talk." she asked?

"But of course I can talk; like anyone else can I'm not just another dumb animal. Besides that I can cook and do a lot of other things around the house when this one (nudging me) makes a mess out of it." Kayla replied in a joking manner.

Miss Dean had the deer in the headlights look on her face.

"Miss Dean why don't we go back into the house and we can talk more, besides I need something to drink." I said.

Miss Dean nodded; "I could use a drink to." She said coming around the truck.

Kayla disengaged from me and went into the house head of us. As I lead Miss Dean into the dinning room I could hear Kayla pouring drinks in the kitchen. I offered her a seat at the table and took the other one; we sat in silence for a minute before Kayla brought in a tray with two cups and a bowl on it held in her jaw. And sat it down on the table before us, I motioned to one of the cups with my hand.

"Please help yourself." I said, picking up the bowl and setting it in front of Kayla.

I watched as she picked up the offered drink and took a sip. Kayla lapped at her bowl as I sipped my Saki. Miss Dean sipped at her drink and pulled out her note pad and started writing. Kayla and I sat in silence as she wrote.

Minutes later.

"Mr. Smith; I still think what we have is someone trying to get you to move out of here. More than likely your neighbor is the prime suspect or someone connected to her, her family or even friends at church. She has the motive, i.e. not wanting to move out. And I can understand her not wanting to lose her house to the government, but sometimes that's just the way things are." She said.

"Plus she has her abject fear and unreasonable hatred of me, she doesn't even know me for whom I am but insist that I'm evil and should be shot." said Kayla.

Miss Dean looked at Kayla and asked; "What gave you that idea?"

"In her own words today to the man from the dog pound that came by earlier when he went to talk to her." said Kayla.

Miss Dean nodded and wrote Kayla's statement down in the note pad.

"I'll tell you what I'm going to do; first I'm going to see if the security cameras recorded her mailing the package. Second I'm going to check with the dog pound about her calls and last I'm going to check with the court on these charges she has brought against you. The U.S. post office takes this kind of thing very seriously and I may end up filling charges against her if I can prove that she sent the package to you. Also if I find out that she did send it to you I will be at your court date to testify on your behalf. Now I really need to get back to the office and file this report with my superiors." she said getting up.

"Good hopefully your investigation will get to the bottom of this; I'll show you to the door." I said standing.

We watched as Miss Dean got in her car and left, locking the door after closing it. With all that's going on in the world locking the doors and windows at night has become a necessity. As we walked into the living room the phone rang. I turned on the recorder and then answered it only to find static and then the click of someone hanging up on the other end. Turning off the recorder I checked the caller id to find that like usual it was from an out of area call. This meant that it was only one of two types of calls; a computer or a one that had the callers id blocked. Kayla watched as I logged down the hang up call in the log I kept by the phone.

"Another harassment call?" she asked?

"Guess so whoever it was didn't say a word, but we can both guess who it probably was." I said pointing toward our neighbor's house.

"Did you notice the government car down the street with the goon squad in it." She asked.

"Yeah I saw them, probably some men that our friend from D.C. sent to watch over us." I said.

"And if their not from him than that means that they are from Sarah keeping an eye on us." said Kayla.

A plan formed in my mind, I looked at Kayla.

"Stay here I'm going to find out." I said with a grin and went out the back door before she could say anything or stop me.

I crossed the back yard and hopped the fence into the ally; I jogged down the ally until I would be coming out behind the car. Carefully I made my way between two of the vacate houses to take a look at this car. No government signs on the sides or plates that would give them away as working for the government peaked my interest. These two where so intent on watching my house they didn't notice me until I opened the rear drivers door and hopped in. They both jumped and turned around drawing pistols, holding my hands up.

"Nice of you boys to be watching my place but you think you could be less obvious." I asked.

"Now who are you working for? My voice going guttural before they could say anything.

The passenger quickly pulled out a badge and identified himself. F.B.I agent Sims and this is agent Jones pointing to the driver, a tattoo on his wrist that seemed familiar. They both put their guns away.

"Mr. Smith we could have shot you just now." said Jones.

"And I could have killed you two before you got your guns out and aimed; so who's the better killer now?" I asked.

Ignoring my statement, "Mr. Smith we were sent to keep an eye on you, just think of us your unofficial security guards." said Jones.

The picture became crystal clear at that point.

"I'll tell you what, don't worry about guarding me or Kayla tonight just keep an eye on my neighbor the postal inspector believes that it's her that sent the package to me." I said.

"That's not our orders and you can't change them." said Sims.

"Call your boss if you must, I'll call Mr. Spalding if I have to." I said climbing out of the back seat.

As I closed the door I spotted what is sometimes called a bionic ear on the floor board in the front seat.

"By the way those things won't work on my house I've secured it for just those sort of listening devices." I said walking by the driver's door.

I walked back to the house and went in locking the door behind me.

"What in the world is wrong with you pulling a stunt like that?" Kayla asked.

"Their F.B.I sent to watch us by Spalding." I said dropping onto the couch.

"What's wrong mate you've got that look I know all too well on your face?" Kayla asked.

"One of the agents had a tattoo on his wrist that seemed familiar to me I just can't remember where I've seen it." I said.

"Well are you going to keep me hanging here or you going to tell me what it looked like?" asked Kayla.

"Well it was a box with a face in it and some words that I couldn't make out real flowery and in its own way elegant." I said.

Kayla sat there in thought a moment and then walked into the dining room; she came back a few seconds later with the treaty folder and sat it in my lap.

"Look in here." she said there is some symbols that look like what you're described to me in it.

"As I looked I found out that there was no more than ten different marks all relating to various kindred clans, I found one that was close but not a match to the one I had seen on the agents wrist. And pointed it out to Kayla.

"This is the closest to the one on the agent." I said.

Kayla looked at it.

"He's not of Sarah's clan this is the mark of a Toreador, more than likely one of the ones that want you for themselves." Kayla replied.

I looked at the clock it read 6:43 p.m. I picked up the treaty and put it in my satchel.

"Come on let's go out and eat before we head to the church to meet Sarah." I said.

Kayla's ears perked up and her tail went from still into major wag mode.

"Salty things?" she asked.

"Yes, you can have some fries tonight." I said smiling as she did a couple 360's her tail a blur.

"I get salty things! I get salty things!" Kayla chanted as she bounded for the garage.

Kayla has a thing for French fries forget pizza or other things when we are eating out its French fries or nothing. So I locked up the house and we headed out to the garage. Kayla grossed a bit about the box of whatever it was on the tail gate but hoped up into the bed of the truck like usual. I tied the bag shut around the box to cut some of the smell down until I could put it in the trash can on the way out. I climbed into the bed of the truck and helped Kayla put on her safety harness which kept her from being tossed out of the truck if I had to do some extreme driving. I hoped down and opened the garage door boy did the fresh air coming in smell good. I climb into the truck and started it up and backed out of the garage stopping at the trashcan to drop off the box, then closed and locked the garage door before getting into the truck and heading for one of the nearest fast food joints to the house. At the restaurant the guy on the speaker thought I was nuts when I ordered ten super-size fries and two cheese burgers and a small coffee that I was not suppose to be drinking. When we pulled up to the take out window the guy almost had a heart attack when Kayla stuck her head up from the bed of the truck and smiled at him, her tongue hanging out one side of her mouth.

"That will be $15.45." He stuttered not taking his eyes off Kayla.

I handed him a $20.00 and he gave me my change and the food. I pulled the truck over to one of the parking spots and shut the motor off. Kayla stuck her head in thru the sliding rear window and was drooling on the seat in anticipation.

"Ok, already give me a second to get them out of the bag." I said picking the bag up off the floor.

Kayla was shaking excitedly as I sat each order of fries on the dash board and got what I was after the two burgers and all the condiments that found their to the dashboard also. I ripped the bag open and laid it out on the seat and very quickly dumped all the fries on the bag. Kayla waited just long enough for me to get my hand out of the way before diving in. And unlike her it took me ten minutes to finish off the 2 burgers, not three minutes for ten orders of fires.

"W_e are getting some looks from some of the people here maybe it's time for us to leave." Kayla's voice in my head said._

I looked around and saw that we had attracted quite a crowd.

"Yup time for us to leave." I said as I placed my coffee cup in the holder and started the truck up.

As I started to back the truck up a car pulled in behind the truck skidding to a stop and four guys hopped out, one of them hollered for me to shut the truck off. I promptly dropped the truck into first and floored the gas and drove over the curb and into the street leaving rubber all the way, shifting gears and checking the mirrors I knew from experience that I had maybe thirty seconds at least for them to get in the car and out of the parking lot; and this truck wasn't exactly a Nascar racer. So I did the only thing I knew to do I turned left at the next street and kept changing direction until I was sure that they were not going to catch up. Kayla was not too happy with my driving.

"Do you always have to drive like you're in a race?" She asked.

"Only when I'm in a hurry or I've got four dudes jumping out of a car like that." I said.

"Oh, that's why we hoped the curb and burned rubber out of there, what do you think they wanted." She asked.

"Well they defiantly did not want our autographs or to talk, that was apparent by one of them being kindred." I said.

"One was kindred? Are you sure about that Kayla asked? Yeah kinda hard to miss three inch fangs and red eyes looking at you in the mirror." I said.

"That means that some of the other kindred are after us very badly now and have moved up their time table to get to us before Sarah does, we need to tell Sarah about the breach of the masquerade when we see her." said Kayla.

"And that's why I am staying on the back roads to get to the church." I said.

Fifteen minutes later we arrived at the church, after parking the truck me and Kayla headed around to the front door. At the door tonight we lucked out Derrick was working the door and waved me on in when I flashed the pass to him. One of the people behind us started hollering at Derrick (hey what gives that guy and his dog get waved in and the rest of us have to pay?) I heard Derrick respond (He's on the special clientele list something you'll never be on, now pay up or leave.) I laughed as we made our way to the door upstairs. The place was already packed and it was only 8:43 pm. so it took us a good five minutes to get across the floor to the stairway. And just my luck guess who was playing door Nazi my least favorite bouncer Ted.

"Whoa where do you think you're going." he asked?

"The same place I was last night Ted or did you forget that I have a pass." I said holding it up for him to see.

He checked it against the clipboard list and told the other bouncer to take me up to Sarah's booth. We found ourselves sitting in Sarah's booth in less than a minute alone, we had arrived before her. Kayla curled up on the floor by my feet and I was looking over the treaty some more when a tap came from the curtained door.

"Come in." I said.

A woman came in wearing next to nothing, or at least it looked like nothing, if you can call a piece of string nothing.

"Can I get you something to drink." she asked?

"Yes, a large bowl of spring water for my mate here. Pointing down at Kayla, "And a large cup of coffee for me that will be all." I replied.

She nodded and bowed and backed out of the booth.

"Why do you get coffee and all I get is spring water." Kayla asked.

"Because tonight maybe the last time I can drink coffee and I figure why not enjoy it while I can." I replied.

"Oh, there is that and then there are some kindred that can still eat and drink like normal." Sarah said from the other side of the booth.

Both Kayla and I nearly jumped out of our skin by her abrupt arrival in the booth.

"So by your being here I take it that your answer is yes." She said smiling.

We both looked at Sarah.

"The answer is yes but we have conditions we." We said together.

She was somewhat taken aback by our statement but recovered quickly. Her smile disappeared when she saw the treaty on the table before me. "What conditions." she asked?

I passed her the conditions me and Kayla had come up with earlier that day. Our drinks arrived and while she was reading the conditions I and Kayla drank.

"I can live with your conditions; they are really not that bad as some I have heard about over the years." she said.

"Good now Kayla and I won't have to find some other kindred to ally ourselves to. Here is a tidbit of information for you, tonight on our way here a car with four guys tried to stop us at a restaurant parking lot. One of the dudes was sporting three inch fangs and had red eyes." I said taking another drink of the coffee.

Sarah's face became a mask of rage.

"You're telling me that kindred broke the masquerade and reviled himself in public!" Kayla and I nodded and watched as she pulled out a cell phone and made a phone call.

"This is Sarah De-Fluer I need to speak with the prince; she waited a few seconds before speaking again. Sorry to disturb your evening my prince, information has come to me concerning a breach of the masquerade. No my prince; it actually came from our new ambassador; he was attacked in public by a kindred before our meeting here at the church. She stopped speaking and listening intently before answering. Yes my prince the one is known to me he is one of my clan. Seconds pass listening again. Yes my prince I will see to it tonight. Goodnight my prince sorry to have disturbed your pleasures." She said and hung up the phone.

Her rage seemed lessened by the phone call, I watched as a malevolent smile appeared on her face.

"Oh the fun I'm going to have tonight, but first back to the business at hand." She said.

She rang a small bell that was sitting in the middle of the table; within seconds a tap came from the curtained doorway.

"Come." Sarah said.

The servant came in eyes to the floor.

"You rang mistress? The servant asked.

I watched as Sarah wrote out a note and handed it to the servant.

"Take this to your master and have Mr. Smith added to my account here. Now go and do as I have bid you." Sarah said somewhat forcibly. The girl bowed and backed out of the booth. Once she was gone Sarah turned her attention back to Kayla and me.

"I think it's time that we left here and went somewhere a little more private, if you will follow Me." Sarah said getting up from the table. What else could I and Kayla do but follow, our fate was tied to this kindred now by not only the treaty but our word of honor as well. Sarah led us through the private area and to an elevator at the back. Once in the elevator she turned to us.

"From now on you can enter the club from the private parking lot on this elevator the guard at the booth in the parking lot will open it for you." she said as the doors opened to the night air.

As we left the elevator a stretched hummer pulled up in front of us, the passenger side door opened and a man jumped out carrying a small step stool which he placed in front of the back door and then opened the door and held it bowing as Sarah approached.

"James this is my new childe Mr. Smith, he and Kayla will be allowed use of the hummer when needed. Mr. Smith please give your truck keys to James here and he will bring it to my home." Sarah said.

I pulled the truck keys from my pocket and handed them over to James.

"It's the multi-colored primer paint job ford out front, hope you can drive a standard." I said. James looked like he wanted to die as he took the keys from me.

We followed Sarah as she entered the hummer, the funny thing was that Kayla was able to get into the hummer's door and lay down inside with plenty of room to spare. Once inside the door was closed and off we went. I looked around the interior of the hummer, talk about plush; this thing came with all the bells and whistles and then some more bells to boot. Another servant brought drinks and paid no attention to Kayla; Sarah noticed this and corrected the matter.

"Girl where is the food I had ordered?" Sarah asked.

"Mistress, I have it plated waiting mistress's command to serve it." The girl said. Sarah waved her hand at the girl; the girl went toward the front of the car and returned momentarily with the food. She placed a plate near me and one in front of Kayla.

"Please eat; I think you will find the food agreeable to both of you." said Sarah.

I pulled the small dome from my plate to find nachos "not that I was hungry" and Kayla found hers to be a nice t-bone steak almost raw. To say the food was history was an understatement in the least. I was watching Kayla eat her steak when she started acting like she was dizzy; then her head hit the floor. I tried to get up and go to Kayla but Sarah's hand stopped me.

"Don't worry she's just asleep I drugged the steak so we could be alone without her interference." Sarah said her fangs showing.

I looked at Sarah and realized what she had planed; the death of my body was at hand and my new life as a kindred was about to begin. Understanding what was about to happen I pulled my collar away from my neck and tilted my head to the right exposing as much of my neck as possible for her. Sarah was fast, one second she was in another seat and then the next her arms where around me holding me tight. I felt the pain in my neck as she bite down, my life's blood poured from my neck into her greedy mouth. She stopped feeding long enough to unzip my pants and pull my cock out; which she was ridding shortly. I felt so tired but knew it was from the blood loss; she continued to ride my cock. My orgasm was fast approaching as she bit down on my neck again, the pain was less than before but the orgasm was nearly the best one I ever had; my vision left as my heart slowed almost to a stop not enough blood for it to pump.

"So this is what it's like to die of blood loss." I thought.

I felt something being forced into my mouth and tasted blood. And a voice said in the distance "drink and live, drink and live over and over." I sucked hard blood somewhat cold but thick filled my mouth I swallowed and kept this up until it was pulled away from me. Flashes of memories passed through my mind most my own, but some not. I felt as if I was floating, my eyes open my vision dim I realized that I was being carried; my eyes closed as I felt my body being laid on a bed. Sleep almost had me in its grasp as the pain in my neck returned, my life's blood being drawn off again and once again I was feed. Over and over the cycle was repeated. In the early hours of the morning I awoke to the sound of someone screaming their head off in pain; only to realize that it was my voice before I gave one final scream of rage and the world went black. Later I awoke to the feel of warm water running across my body and the feel of a wash cloth on my skin slowly cleaning me, the smell of French vanilla in the air. I opened my eyes to find the Sarah washing me; I try to speak but she placed a finger to my lips.

"Hush my childe, your still weak and need time to regain your strength." She said her voice barely a whisper. I weakly nod and watch as she washes me; by the time she is finished my cock is harder than it's ever been.

"Oh now I can't let that go to waste." She says climbing in the tub with me; she slowly lowers herself onto my cock.

I watch as my cock disappears into her smooth hairless pussy. Her pussy is tight and firm almost too tight; her muscles work in rhythmically on my cock, pushing me to the point of orgasm quicker than ever before. She leans in offering her breast to my mouth, I take it in and suck on it my fangs extend I am rewarded with the taste of her blood in my mouth I hear her moan in pleasure; my left arm is lifted and I feel her bite my wrist intense pleasure floods my brain. Her pussy clamps down on my cock as her orgasm takes her; mine follows hers quickly my seed floods her vagina again and again. Slowly we come back to our senses the water has gone cold; she climes out of the tub my hand in hers, she helps me out and we are dried off by the servants and robes are placed on us.

"Its late we must retire for the day my child, your room is through that door and so is Kayla" Sarah said. I bowed.

"Good night sire." I said and backed away three paces turned and went through the door. On the other side of the door I found a very plush bedroom with no windows and Kayla still asleep on the bed. I walked over to the bed and dropped the robe on the end of it.

"I never slept with clothes on since Kayla and I mated the first time why start now." I said as I climbed into bed and laid down my arms wrapped around her as sleep took me.

A new life

I awoke with a start sitting bolt upright in the bed, Kayla was not on the bed nor in the room. I climbed out of bed and grabbed the robe and put it on. The room was very plush to say in the least, but right now I was more concerned with finding Kayla. As I headed for the door it opened and Kayla came walking in with a servant carrying a tray with a couple of bottles and cup on it; very lightly clad girl in nothing more than what some would call a teddy. "And way too young for me to even look at! She couldn't be over 13 years old if that."

"I see your up finally up; it's about time you've been out for three days and I was beginning to wonder if you would ever get up again." Kayla said.

I hugged Kayla and gave her the wettest tongue kiss I could, which wasn't much, as my mouth was dry as the desert in the wet season.

"Yew!! Your tongue is ice cold." said Kayla.

"Hey! What did you expect? I'm like dead here, you know no heartbeat or reason to eat or drink etc." I said smiling at Kayla.

There was a hushed giggle from the servant girl.

"The mistress said that you should drink all these bottles when you wake up; shall I pour you a glass, master?" She asked, her voice almost a whisper.

"Yes, pour me a glass, and then go about your duties whatever they maybe." I said.

The girl popped the cork from the first bottle and poured a glass, then put the bottle into what looked like a chiller for wine. As she placed the bottle in what I thought was a wine chiller my vision changed and I was seeing everything in the infrared, the wine chiller was hot not cold which meant it was heating the bottle not cooling it. As I looked around I started seeing the different shades of red and black and realized in a second that this must be how kindred hunt at night; seeing the bodies heat on a cold night must come in handy especially for a hunter not for the hunted. Just as quickly as it happened my vision changed back to normal. Kayla was looking at me funny and the servant girl had brought the tray and glass over to me and was kneeling next to me. I took the offered glass and took a sip, warm blood flowed into my mouth and the strongest hunger urge came over me. I up ended the glass and sat it back down on the serving tray the girl was holding and went to the bottle warmer and took the bottle and up ended it draining it in a matter of less than a minute. The other two bottles followed the first very quickly; I was still hungry but not as before. I smelled fear and blood in the room; I turned and looked at Kayla and the servant girl.

"Bring more blood for me girl, my thrust is still high." I said my body trembling. The girl jumped up and grabbed the empty bottles and ran from the room. The smell of her fear and season flowed over me as she passed.

"Love I could barely control myself, I smelled her fear and season and I almost attacked her for her blood." I exclaimed.

"Glad you didn't because I would have had to defend her from you and the last thing I want right now is to have to fight you." Kayla replied. I sat down on the floor next to her and wrapped my arms around her and buried my face into her neck fur. I wanted to cry but couldn't my tears would not come.

"What sort of monster have I allowed myself to become?" I asked my voice coming out in a whisper.

"You've become a hunter of the night like all kindred of our clan before you. But unlike so many others before you; you survived the test of making and rebirth." Sarah said from the door.

I looked up from Kayla a question on my lips and a shocked look on my face. "I hadn't heard the door open, dame she's good, I thought."

A smile on her face.

"Good there is something I can teach you after all. The test of making, my draining your blood and then giving you mine." Said Sarah as she walked into the room and over to the bed to sit down. The servant girl followed her in and brought four more bottles which she opened and offered to me. As with the other three bottles I drained these but slower savoring the taste, Sarah watching my every move.

"And rebirth?" I asked between bottles.

"You woke up hungry like all kindred do, but you slept longer than most do also. The longer you sleep the more you need to drink when you wake, that simple. You survived rebirth because you did not attack my servant here who started her first period today, even though you could have. And with that attack I would have had to destroy you for the beast that you are. Remember this always "Always remember who you where before the embrace, your humanity is the only thing between you and the beast. If you forget your humanity and set lose the beast within, you will lose your life. Thus is father Cain's law." Never give into the bloodlust when hungry that can get you destroyed very quickly by the hunters or other kindred." Sarah said to us.

Kayla and I sat there for many hours that night listening to Sarah teaching us about the kindred clans, laws and history, things I never would have of believed if I was still the man I was born as and not what I had become.

It took me some five years before I had come to grips with what I had become and in that time I was unlike many childer released by my sire Sarah. Kayla my beloved mate is gone now some odd 300 years in the past. Many of my friends in court have survived but most have not. The planet of my birth is a nuclear waste land with cities here and there after they pushed the button. Mars is home now for what's left of the human race and us supernatural beings. And of myself, what did I achieve? What else, I'm the leader of the clan. I Gangrel, is who I am, but that is another story.