Hunters Moon New Moon Rising: Chapter Ten
Story by Possum on SoFurry
Having caught their quarry it is time to learn what she knows...
Hunters Moon series
Characters Pelnak and Cassiopeia are
© Cederwyn Whitefurr used with permission
written by Possum and Cederwyn Whitefurr
Hunters Moon New Moon Rising:
Chapter Ten
They take an elevator to a lower level, a biometric scanner granting them access through the silver barred doors, before a pair of armed guards recognised them and opened another silver door granting access to the dungeon. It resembled a modern hospital well-lit and sterile, as they walked down the hallway, then stopped outside another biometric scanner door. Placing her hand on it, the Crone waits patiently as the scanner reads her fingerprints and palm lines, before it beeps and the door unlocks. As she pulls it open, the younger Apprentice grins, hearing the anguished and agonised screams of the Therian.
Katie is bound on an examination table with silver shackles around the shins forearms and one around the neck. Every movement rubbed against the cursed metal causing smouldering burns and a scream of pain Esmeralda approached eager to please her mistress
“Beast. Where are your people?" Esmeralda demanded. "Speak!"
“I will not answer the likes of you human filth!" Katie snarls.
Esmeralda slaps her on the muzzle sharply, rocking the Therian's head to the side, and a sickening stench of burned fur and flesh is smelt, before the wisps of smoke from the throat is seen.
Katie laughed apathetically. “Pathetic human runt! Let me loose of these confining restraints, and we'll see who will scream and plead! I'll show you how to torture someone..."
Esmeralda's temper flared, then with supreme force of will, she reigned herself in, ashamed to be so easily riled by the Therian, especially before her Mistress. Walking over to a medical trolley, Esmeralda brought it over, then set it where the Therian could easily see the silk shrouded trolley. Pulling off the silk cover revealed an assortment of silver instruments pliers scalpels saws blades hooks and more.
“Last chance to tell me where to find your people beast." Esmeralda says with her hand on the edge of the trolley,
“Go fuck yourself – or better yet – let me go, and I will do it to you..."
With a sigh, Esmeralda shook her head, then gently pet the Therian's chest, feeling the muscles twitch as it growled and its paws clenched in anger. Picking up a long silver instrument, she passed it from hand to hand, before pressing it against the Therian's chest. Instantly, the Therian screamed and struggled wildly, the silver burning through fur and flesh, the smell sickening.
For nearly five minutes, Katie struggled and screamed in unimagined agony, the Therian within her strong, but even it couldn't resist the silver and what it was doing for long....
Katie gasped for breath fighting the pain that lingered as the Witch lifted the instrument and tapped it against her palm.
“Mayhaps, that loosened your tongue?" Esmeralda asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Katie gasped piteously, trying to draw breath into lungs that felt like they'd been burned alive. “I… I don't know anything!"
Esmeralda shook her head slowly. "I doubt that very much... I know how strong your kind think you are, oh, believe me, you won't be the first we've tortured for information! I do hope, for your sake, you're telling me the truth – as if I find out you're lying, well, it won't go well for you... Now, think very hard, as I can keep you alive for weeks, two months once, I tortured a Therian – before he finally died – think on that, before you answer me..."
Katie sobbed and pleaded. "I swear, I don't know anything! Please, believe me!"
“Such a shame – I think that's a lie too..." Esmeralda grinned, as she walked to the end of the table, then took something from under it.
Katie couldn't see, but she suddenly bucked and screamed until she thought her spine would surely snap, as a silver penis like device was thrust between her thighs then deep into her vaginal passage. It sizzled and burned the sensitive flesh Katie's eyes bulged wide as she screamed like she had never screamed before, on the verge of literally dying from the agony it brought her.
"Enough!" Snapped the old Crone.
Esmeralda slid it free, then dropped it into a bucket, before she walked back around to look down at Katie.
“No beast you will not get the relief of unconsciousness here, or death! You think that hurt you? Oh, my dear, sweet misguided young Doe...I've only begun to show you the pain I can bring unto you..." Esmeralda smiled, then caressed Katie's sweat soaked cheek. “Now who changed you?".
“I don't know what you mean. How did this happen to me? I'm a human! I have rights! I demand a lawyer!" Katie sobbed heart-brokenly
Esmeralda laughed. “Once, maybe – but this beast has claimed you, you bear its mark, I know not where, but I can see what it has turned you into. No, there is no humanity left within you, you belong to it, body and mind now. Now, save yourself the agony, and tell us – who turned you? Where are they? When did it happen?"
Again, the agony come like a hammer to the forehead, as Esmeralda began cutting into Katie with a silver dagger, slicing effortlessly through fur and flesh, watching the blood well up.
Katie writhed helplessly, the agony building to an unbearable level, before she resolve shattered and she screamed. “It was a Stag...in the woods – he raped me, it was a White Tail Buck!"
“A white tail buck you say? You let it...mate with you?"
“No it raped me! I was hunting teaching my son and these two Whitetails came out of nowhere and took us, raped us we didn't have a choice...."
Esmeralda raised an eyebrow. "Two of them? Were they both Bucks? Who was the other human you claim was raped? Tell me! "
Katie couldn't refuse, as the Witch sliced and tortured her now more out of sadistic pleasure – the razor sharp silver knife cutting shallow but agonising wounds.
Katie told them everything...
*
In the glade Ely feed quietly. He preferred the succulent leaves and herbs that lay within the forest, rather than the glade grasses. He remained just inside the forest edge, keeping a watchful eye on the two Whitetails. Pelnak experimented, shifting his form between his feral self, then into his anthro form and back again.
Cassiopeia watched him, as she grazed eagerly, knowing she was with fawn again. She had not yet told Pelnak, and she was worried as to who was the father of her fawn – could Ely put her with fawn? Or was that impossible? Cassiopeia had no idea, and was hesitant to ask – both sensing and smelling Pelnak's growing emotional imbalance within him.
Pelnak, settling into his anthro form, walked over to Cassiopeia and gently scratched the feral doe behind her right ear. Gratefully, Cassiopeia leaned into it, thankful for her lovers affections. He scritches her more, then leans close and nibbles at her nape, his scent all too clear what he'd like to do with her.
“Not Now!" Cassie snorted, flinching away from him.
“Cassie?" Pelnak moans softly, as he moves towards her again, but she shook her head, then moved further out of reach.
“Pelnak? Please – I need to talk to Ely – privately..."
He is confused, and more than a little hurt, but he trusts her, watching as she slips away into the edges of the forest.
“Ely?" Comes Cassiopeia's soft questioning voice.
Ely frowned, then he hurriedly chewed the mouthful of succulent leaves, before he swallowed and looked at Cassiopeia.
“Aye?"
“I was wondering what your plans were, I mean long term?"
“Young one I go where I must! I do not settle, though I must admit I feel at peace here, like I belong here." Looking around closing his eyes and taking a deep breath Ely continues in thought. “This place resonates within me, It is a feeling I've not felt since the hunters came for my family all those years ago. I could spend the rest of my days here in peace and tranquillity."
“Pelnak has been talking about it and you have done more for us than words can ever convey, we care deeply for you and would gladly die to protect you."
A tear formed in Ely's eye. “That warms my heart Thank you Cassiopeia it means more than you will ever know. But I must insist that no one die for me a life for a life is never an equal trade no matter the intent and know that -"
“Know what?" Pelnak asked, his feral head pushing aside some branches, as he walks towards them, a look of growing confusion and mistrust in his eyes, but its gone as Cassiopeia squeals and turns to face him.
“We were just talking, about my long term plans – nothing more..." Ely answered, but noted the look of mistrust that flashed across Pelnak's eyes.
*
On a distant ridge a man in a gillie suit moved stealth-fully, millimetres at a time, as he lay prone and carefully brought a powerful spotters scope to his eye. Distant forest and clearings suddenly leap up in magnification, as he scanned the woods and clearings. He'd been assigned this part of the woods, and had been at it for days, always aware that if what the Therian had said was true – they were young, relatively inexperienced – and there was a chance he would find them – before they got wind of him.
He was surprised – as he expected woods such as these to have a fair herd of feral whitetail's, but he'd seen less than a dozen in the time he'd been here. Scanning another distant clearing, he's about to move to the next spot, when suddenly he freezes. He spots a feral doe grazing, then thinking her as just that, he's about to move his scope, when he suddenly see's something that makes his blood turn to ice water. An anthromorph stag comes out of the dark woods, his hand resting on the back of her head for a moment, before she moves away and leaves him behind, departing back to the woods
He moves back towards the bush, sliding a compact satellite phone from his belt. By memory, he punches in the number, sending a message confirming his discovery.
Confirm, one target, Male, one possible confirmation, female.
It is a minute or two later, when he feels it vibrate in his hand.
Affirmative, return to extraction point Bravo, Echo Team deploying.
Confirmed.
*
It is a sudden hive of activity back at the Estate, as humans gather for their mission briefing. They're decked out in gear designed for capture and killing o Therian's, but they're laughing and joking about it, not believing the threat is real, until Esmeralda's whip like voice silences them.
“You think its funny do you? Think that someone saw a trophy stag and its all a huge joke? We have the mutilated corpses of a young man and a homeless person – thorough autopsy reveals they died at the hands of a Therian, of the Odocoileus Virginianus Species. For those of you not up to speed – that's a Whitetail Deer!"
“Sounds like a fools errand, we got her trapped and - “ One said.
“They say one is confirmed though..." Another spoke up.
“Yes but they've said that before" Come another.
“SILENCE..." Esmeralda snapped at them. “You will take the traditional stuff so sure you are of this "fools errand"? Besides it is a skill that I do not wish to see lost! Besides, why waste expensive ammunition and weaponry, shooting at these pathetic creatures? All accounts and purposes, they are of little threat. Untrained, inexperienced, young...we should have minimal trouble disposing of them!"
They deploy a 10 man team, to hunt Cassiopeia and Pelnak. Esmeralda joins them, but it is outside standard protocol,. For a Black Witch such as her to accompany the Assassination group. It should be fairly straight forward, find them, kill them, and extract back to their base – a day at most – it'll be done...
*
Pelnak and Cassie sleep nose to tail with each other, their black tipped ears twitching every so often, but they are exhausted and deep asleep. Ely sleeps as well, but his senses are more finely tuned, to the natural world and it is through his bonds, he is instantly snapped awake, his head lifting and ears swivelling. With a feral alarm bark, he rouses the two Whitetail, who blink and yawn, confused and bewildered.
“What is it?" Pelnak yawns again, then shakes his head.
“Listen!" Ely growls, then bites his shoulder painfully. “Use those ears the Gods gave you!"
Cassie's ears flick, and she frowns, before Pelnak sniffles and turns his head, trying to track the source of the distant thump of rotor blades
“Oh no..." Ely moans softly, ears flattening and eyes widening. “No...it can't be...it just can't!"
“Ely?" Pelnak whimpers, fears gripping him as he see's Ely's body start to shake.
Cassiopeia, having never heard helicopter rotor's, is confused and bewildered. Ely nudges her, then when she doesn't respond, Pelnak bites her on the neck. She snarls at him, then blinks and shudders, as both Pelnak and Ely look terrified.
“I don't have time to explain, please! Just get into cover! Trust me – our lives depend on it!" Ely wept, as he forced both Whitetail's into the deepest, darkest forest thicket he could find. “Hunters are coming for us..."
“We've killed hunters before, haven't we Cassiopeia?" Pelnak laughed in surprise and disbelief.
“No, you stupid young Buck!" Ely growled dangerously, making Pelnak step backwards. “Not the people who come to shoot deer and such, The Hunters – those specially trained humans – who hunt and murder out kind! They are the ones you should fear and have respect for!"
Sounds of thumping rotors come closer and closer, as Ely paced back and forth in agitation and rising fear. “I thought we'd be safe here! How could they have found us?"
Cassiopeia glanced at Pelnak, who looked back at her.
“No..." Cassiopeia moaned softly. “There's no way..."
“I never imagined - “ Pelnak gasped, his eyes widening. “You don't think I - “
“What did you do?" Ely snarled his eyes suddenly blazing a brilliant emerald green.
“Before you came – about six months before – a human woman and her..." Pelnak began.
“A human, woman and her son – they were here to hunt deer. Well, we knew they were here, but they seemed not to be the usual type of hunters..." Cassiopeia glanced at Pelnak, who took over again.
“We...it was rutting season for we Whitetail's – you yourself, you know how bad the instinct is and...how hard it is to control!"
Losing his patience, Ely began pacing. “Get to the point, we don't have time to drag this out!"
“We...Cassie and I...well, Cassie had the young male, and I bred to the woman..." Pelnak stammered. “I never thought..."
“You never thought..." Ely snapped at him. “Damnating fool! thou have doomed us all! When thou misspoke the words the army of the dead awoke! Both of you should have killed them! Do you hear me! You should have bled them dry and eaten them! Do you have any idea what you've brought down upon all of us?"
“We thought if we just – scared them, they'd leave us alone and never come back...." Cassie wept.
“Oh, you young fools – Cassie, you alone, should know how our blessing is passed on! Did you, Pelnak, did you give that woman your seed? Did you?" Ely shrieked eyes flaring bright green for an instant, making both the Whitetail's drop to the ground beneath his righteous anger.
“I..." Pelnak wept in fear. “I never knew it could..."
“It's the same as biting them! Oh sweet Mother, how can you both be so foolish! Obviously, either the boy child or the woman...turned...you let a wild, untrained and undisciplined Therian loose in a human town? Do you have any idea of what will possibly have happened? Other than the hunters coming to murder us all?"
Ely paced, his paws clenching and unclenching, before he leant his head against a tree, placing his paws there and shuddered, feeling his emotions calm as he channelled all of the rage and fear into the ground, where it couldn't hurt anyone.
“If we live, I will lecture you young fools deeply and intensely. Cassiopeia, I'm particularly ashamed of you – but considering what you've told me about your upbringing – I guess I shouldn't be too surprised...oh mo...they're here..."
*
Quickly, Ely turns to both of them, his instructions short and quick.
“You both are much faster at the change than any they have likely encountered previously. So be mindful, they will be armed with silver weapons – I don't need to tell you both what agony such things can cause! Use the trees and your knowledge of this place to your advantage. We know where the gullies, the thickets and the ravines are! So, be mindful, lead them into traps if you can, just don't lose your direction or you will die."
Pelnak looked at Cassiopeia, and she returned his look, both looks nauseous and scared.
“Now, you're a mated pair, I don't deny that – so use your mate bond! Work together as a team, think before you act – if they're separated, kill quickly and as mercifully as you can – please! They don't deserve it – but we don't have time to enjoy it. They will show you no mercy, be always mindful. Use the natural cover and our advantage we have over them. They do not know this territory well – we do – so use it! Do you both understand?"
Cassie and Pelnak nodded.
“May the Great Mother watch over us all – we're going to need it..." Ely shuddered and nodded.
To Be Continued...