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Woo, continuing! As always, all characters are copyright to me, TiberiusRings.

The knock on the door startled me. I didn't expect anyone coming back, and the question Avalon had asked of me was surprising to say the least. I blinked my eyes in surprise and just looked to him, holding a finger up to my muzzle and told him to keep quiet.

The knocking persisted and I watched Avalon's arms visibly flinch. He was a warrior, much like Arch in a lot of ways. He was bred, and obviously raised, to approach any conflict aggressively. It took a lot of training and restraint for a warrior to simply not jump into a problem with fists up, claws out and teeth bared. Avalon won a lot of brownie points in my book for simply not grabbing the door, ripping it open and approaching Jeran as a potential threat.

When the knock got louder I was growing angry. Jeran, my peer in rank, was becoming a persistent thorn in my side. I had problems that persisted and I wanted this one gone. With a huff I approached the two large stone doors that had been locked, slid the wooden plank back out of the recess, and grabbed the large handle, opening up one of the doors.

On the other side was none other than the man I had expected to be there. The Scout-Alpha was standing there, fist up to knock on the stone door once more, and seemed surprised when I had opened it. His fist remained in the air for a moment longer and then lowered it. His one eye looked at me squarely, staring at me as if I was going to challenge him for his rank.

For the longest time it felt like the silence between us would last for an eternity; persisting past our lives and culminating in an expanse of darkness and anger that was not suitable for any wolf, especially wolves of rank such as us. It was finally Avalon who broke the silence. "Can we help you, Scout-Alpha?"

Jeran's eye blinked and looked up to the large warrior who had been standing behind me. The silence broken and the anger allowed to be funneled into one general direction, the scout lifted his lips along his pearly white fangs and just growled quietly. "Why was the council door locked after the meeting ended?"

"We had things to discuss about the arrangement Arch set up," I added, looking at the scout now with boredom and dismissal. I was in no mood to justify myself, but I certainly did not want Jeran to figure out what Avalon had done to me just a few minutes ago, let alone learn about the question Avalon had just asked me.

"And you locked the door?" Jeran asked, obviously not too pleased with my response.

"It's personal," I began. "Avalon is going to be in my personal life for the next few days, with me every step of my way, and I wanted to discuss things of private nature to my private life with him, out of the ears of prying wolves who have nothing better to do than spy." My words were not sweet, but it was not angry either. I knew I was being aggressive with my choice of words, but I didn't care. Jeran had earned me a punishment in front of everyone and had me being escorted like some delinquent. My honor was tarnished whether Arch say it that way or not, and I was in no mood to be cordial to someone like Jeran.

"Oh, I can imagine," Jeran began, looking annoyed and rolling his one uncovered eye. "Fucking this, screwing that, spying on the Alpha and Apollo..." He let that hang in the air, his expression still annoyed and dismissive.

"Jeran, I will--" I began, but I found a hand on my shoulder. Avalon had stepped forward.

"Listen well, Scout-Alpha," the warrior said, stepping between me and the scout. "You may still be angry with Slayn but you did bring up the matter in the Council and Arch has made his decision for the time being. You are laying the ground work for Slayn to openly challenge you for honor."

"Maybe that's what I want," The Scout said, looking up at Avalon. I had stepped to the side slightly so I could see their conversation better. "He's put a child in my daughter for no reason but to sleep with her!"

"She came to MY tent, not the other way around!" I said, angry that this problem was still coming up. The fact alone that I was going to be a father bothered me to no end, but that my potential father in law was so angry about the fact bugged me more.

"You are still responsible where you stick your penis, whelp." Jeran said with an angry sneer. "You and Arch grew up together and he is too soft on you, I should--" Jeran was cut off. Avalon had back handed the scout with his large paw, sending the scout tumbling backwards.

Avalon didn't stop there, his body shot forward and slammed a knee right into the stomach of the Scout-Alpha, knocking him up and off his feet for a few amazing moments. One of Avalon's large paws came around and slammed the back side of his fist into the other side of the male's skull, sending him falling to the stony floor.

I took satisfaction that there was blood coming from the corner of the man's lips. Even more than he groaned and curled up a bit on his side.

"You are walking on thin ice, Jeran," Avalon made it a point not to use the male's rank, obviously angry. Avalon was a tall male, as tall as Arch, and his fur was bristling in all its brilliant red and cream color, making him look twice as bulky. His tail was even flicking rapidly, his paws up and his fingers curled, ready to strike or even extend his claws if the situation called for it. "Arch HAS ruled, and you have insulted all our Alpha and accused him of favoritism. If you don't leave this moment I will bring this matter up with Chance and the rest of the caern that you are unfit to lead a sect of the tribe because you are openly undermining Arch's ruling."

The scout grunted, looking at me and then shifting his fiery eye at the big warrior. He shifted his weight to a kneel and held his side, palm against his face where he had been struck. He rose to his feet and growled, and without a word he just turned and left down the stone corridor, growling and angry.

When Jeran turned the corner and I could not see him, I relaxed. What Avalon had done was risky; beyond risky. He was still new to our caern and he had openly declared that Jeran was betraying everyone. Jeran could have taken the challenge and fought Avalon to the death if he had wanted. I had been holding my breath the whole time, worried that now blood would be spilled because of some stupid action on my part. Thankfully Jeran had some sensibility to him, but how long would it last?

Avalon turned to me and shook his head, wiggling his cute ears through the bandanna he wore on his head, his face tilting and looking very serious. When his eyes fell onto me, he simply smiled. "Arch also told me to protect you, and I will protect you, Slayn."

I felt my face redden and I had to look away. I couldn't believe someone like this was making me blush! In all my life no one had defended my honor like that and stepped in the way of a conflict for me. It was a unique feeling, something that got my blood flowing to my face in a blush.

"Thanks," I managed to say, my face still red. "A-and to answer your question, yes I will let you take me to the banquet tonight."

Hours would pass and very little happened. Avalon and I had actual work to do. While Arch's orders had been made, there was more to do than simply take the Alpha's words and obey. People had to be informed. My striders in particular needed to be told that while my Beta was going to be in command, information still needed to flow to me. I was still their Alpha and I could make minor decisions, like who could live where, or what chores needed to be done. Any rulings about deployment and destinations went through my subordinate. I wanted everyone to be clear that I needed to be kept in the loop, even just as a consultant, so that when I resumed my duties that I could hit the ground running.

Talking to all the striders also began to put rumors out. Arch's affair with Apollo was a secret known only to the council and a few select wolves. When questioned about why, it was simply assumed because of what had happened with Jeran's daughter and that I had been misrepresenting my role as a Strider-Alpha. I didn't know what people would have thought if they knew I had spied on Arch while he was being intimate with Apollo, and frankly, I was worried. I didn't like keeping secrets from the people whom I led, who did still respect me. A lot of the wolves who openly spoke their opinion thought it was unfair but that something had to be done, and Arch acting was a good sign that he paid attention to his direct subordinates. Above all, Arch's image had to remain pure and perfect. It was part of the council's job to keep the perception of Arch neat, to the point where the council could be sacrificed to keep his image intact.

walking, talking, and resting had been the majority of my afternoon, but I had been also talking to Avalon. I had learned a lot about the male as a person, and was growing more comfortable around someone who was actively perusing me. Avalon came from the southern caern, officially titled the Thick Rock tribe. They were once enemies during the time before Arch's mentor, Kaudi, lead the Half-Moon, but men like Kaudi and Arch had turned hostility into prosperity, first creating treaties and then trade. Relations improved and by the time of Arch's rule, the current generation (except for a certain old mage), saw the Thick Rock as allies and friends. Their Alpha ruled a much smaller Caern in a smaller territory that was very peaceful and isolated, nestled against thick, high valley walls.

Avalon was the son of a dead warrior but a living mother. Avalon had watched his father's death, and the story he told was not of sadness, but of pride.

"There was a terrible storm when I was young, seven seasons. Our valley is nice, but when a bad storm comes it floods the valley floor and everyone has to evacuate to high ground. I have two brothers and a sister, and we were all very young, and my mother was ill at the time. When the storm came we left our home, at the edge of the caern, and rushed up the hill to a safe cave. There are doors of wood built onto them so we can seal them closed. Half way there the rain began."

Avalon had looked up at the sky, and I saw his grin on his face. I was expecting tears, but none came. "I was the youngest and I watched my father help my mother and my siblings. I remember tripping down the slope and almost sliding back down the hill when I felt his hand grab my wrist. He drew me up out of the mud and water and held me close, walking with me in his arm and helping my mother and family.

"Eventually," he continued, "We got to the caves, but there was a river we had dammed at the time of the last bad storm and it was close to the caves. The mages at the time, only two old women who were on their death beds, said the water was going to breach the sides and unless the caves were sealed from the outside everyone would die."

"Why would they die?" I had asked, stopping Avalon's train of thought.

He just picked up a stick and poked the ground. He drew a line that was horizontal, but then made it branch in various directions, but going downward. "The caves go down. If the mouth was unprotected it would flood them."

"Oh," I said, rubbing the back of my head in surprise.

"Anyway," He said with a grin. "My Dad, he gets us inside and hands me to my brother, who was big enough to hold me, and then tells my mother that he loved her, and all of us that he loved us and was very proud of us. He kissed our foreheads and then he closed the door to the cave from the outside. I remember screaming in surprise, and I heard a clink of metal."

"What was it?"

He grinned. "When the storm passed the door just...opened. No one knew how or why it happened, but what we found on the otherside was terrible. The river had breathed and flooded the side of the hills where the caves were. The only thing that kept the water sealed wood door closed was this," He had reached to his belt and pulled out a black hilted blade, a sword to me but a dagger to the bigger male. The blade was long and mildly curved, thick and designed to be used in combat. "He used this blade to lock the door. We never did find his body."

Avalon was grinning and I could tell he was proud. He carried with him the pride of a man who died for his family and his people, and he personally carried the item that saved them all. Avalon knew his limits, but his father's actions had taught him at a young age about pride, honor, and how important it was to protect those around you, be they family, a mate, or your people.

The banquet was not so much a banquet as it was a party. Everyone was invited, and cooks from both our wolves and their felines had worked the day to prepare for the celebration. It should have been categorized more as a buffet, since there was a long table of various foods and dishes, ranging the gambit from fine fish to various kinds of red meat with the greens and fruits in between. There were delectable sweets on display, including a kind of sweet ice that the cat-mages had designed.

The party was in front of the temple but it was actually the entire temple that hosted the party, since there was not enough room for everyone. The food was in front but the main lounge of the temple and the side roads branching off from the long table of food were all in use. Warriors had worked all day to bring out tables, chairs, sofas, pillows and anything that a person could lounge on. The felines, insistent on music, had brought with them some instruments and had set up a small corner near the food and played. The leopards fancied the wooden instruments, where us wolves, we always enjoyed the fine beat of a drum, though none were out. If the cats wanted music they could produce it themselves.

I had arrived on time, as was demanded of me for my rank. I had gone to my tent, with Avalon, and with his help he had helped me dress. I wore to the party a long double paneled loincloth that was jet black and bore no markings on it. My torso was actually covered in a long leather vest that went down to my waist. The vest was functional and fancy, since there were notches along the chest for various kinds of beautifully polished throwing blades, each one slipped into the leather sheath finely. My wrists were banded in black leather, as were my ankles.

Avalon had come as he was, going to no length to dress up; there was no reason for Avalon to put on more than he needed to hide his nakedness. Some would comment that his bandanna was already overdressed for a wolf, but I didn't complain.

Everyone seemed to be out having a good time and eating. These kind of parties were always planned when a large amount of cats came. It was to help the relations stay positive, let the people mingle, and exchange culture in some way, shape, or form. I could see Renin, the Mage-Beta, in one of his elegant robes and a plate of food, sitting with two equally young looking leopards and discussing something with avid interest, his face bright as he took a bit of fish and put it in his muzzle.

Chance was there, dressed as normal as Avalon and with his wife, his Beta-Warrior. The two looked imposing and powerful, a couple of strength but also one of intense love and honor. The two of them were very much head-over- heels for one another. It was said that Chance's wife, who was equally dressed down in her warrior garb of a tabard and a loincloth, was pregnant, but if that were true she was very early, as there was no sign of it.

I couldn't see Jeran, which was fine with me. The less I saw of the man the better. I couldn't see Arch either, but I figured he and Apollo would be fashionably late as their presence would spark a change in the atmosphere around the party.

"This looks like fun," Avalon said with a smile as his hand touched my shoulder. I flushed a bit and looked up at him, grinning cutely. "You should relax tonight, Slayn. You've had a long few days."

"Long is not the word I'd choose," I said with a dramatic sigh for the moment, but then smiled. "But, you are right. I should relax with my date."

That comment made Avalon grin, his hand slipping down and giving my rear end a firm pinch. I winced and jumped, yelping cutely as my ears perked. A few heads turned to me, and I looked to Avalon, smirking. "As much as I like being hit on in public, you should know you need to pull it in until we're in private. If Jeran realizes we're...interested in one another, he'll complain to Arch."

"True, true," He said with a sigh, looking down at me with a smile. "Tonight I hope you will let me show you how much I can be interested in you."

Avalon's comment made me blush and I looked over my shoulder at him. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well," He said, his hands sliding down his massive chest, folding down the fur on his figure to reveal more of his torso to me. Avalon was extremely handsome and muscular, his physical appearance was something to relish and admire, something that had me red in the face all ready. "I was hoping I could give you a massage."

"A... what?" I blinked. I had expected the random horny comment from a very powerful warrior. Instead I got something completely different than what I had been expecting.

"You know," He said with a wave of his hand. "Something sweet, romantic."

"Romantic?" I asked, a bit surprised. I had managed to walk myself down to the large table of food and picked up a plate, handing one first to Avalon and then picking another up for myself. I was just trying to keep moving so I didn't look as stunned as I felt. I didn't think Warriors knew the word 'romantic'.

"Well, yeah," Avalon said, putting something on his plate, it looked like meat. "What's wrong with being romantic?"

"Nothing is wrong with it," I said, also putting food on my plate. "It's just that I've never heard a warrior use that word in a serious way. I grew up around men like Chance and Arch, and when they're interested in someone...well, they don't usually go through all the steps to get them."

"Ah," Avalon said with a toothy grin as he put even more meat on his plate. "But, Chance is married. You can't find someone to mate with forever like that unless you prove to them you are a good person and willing to play the game."

I thought about it and tried to put the pieces together in my mind. Chance did have a wife, one of the most beautiful women in all the caern. The story went that Chance and Arch had actively perused her when they were growing up, but being there, I knew better. She had teased the both of them but she had her eyes only for Chance. When she picked the Beta over the future Alpha, Arch wasn't even sad. He knew he had been losing the game since the start.

"You do have a point," I said, nearing the end of the table with a full plate of food. "So you don't just want to jump to sex?"

"Well," Avalon said as he followed me, still speaking softly so we wouldn't be easily overheard. I heard him quietly laugh. "If I could jump to the end I would, but I would still be romantic to you afterward. Sex is fun, and it shows physically how you feel about someone. When you're in love with someone its supposed to be one of the best experiences of your life."

Avalon was still making he blush. This warrior, the foreigner from the south, was too good to be true. He was handsome and kind, empathetic and strong. "What about my fascination with Arch?"

"The game isn't worth playing if there isn't challenges and risks, Slayn." He said with another laugh. I watched Avalon take the lead and walk to one of the low tables and pillows near a small ring of people. "All I ask for is the chance to try."

"Oh, you have your chance," I said with a grin, still a bit red in the face and ears as we sat down at one of the low tables. Chairs weren't very comfortable for wolves or cats, so the Leopards had brought with them their sitting pillows and tables, arranging them all over the temple quad. Due to the level of darkness creeping in, lanterns had been lit at each table, creating a romantic glow.

Avalon sat right next to me instead of in front of me.

The ring of people ahead of us parted enough for us to see what was going on. As we ate, we saw two figures standing in the public sand pit. The pit was for open shows of feat of strength and ability, a place to show off but under the watchful eye of the caern itself. It was long and wide, the ring set low and the sand incredibly soft. Injury was common, so when I saw not only one of our own mages but one of the cats near the edge I knew someone was trying to prove themselves in one way or another, either for pride or entertainment.

What I didn' expect was to see Eros standing in the ring and a young warrior on his back in the sand. There was a small trail of smoke coming from his shoulder, and his hand over the wound, wincing in pain. I watched as the mages moved close and began a combined spell, using their powers to heal the wound. Magic like this was costly, and wolves tended to not like it. Our belief was that the injury healing process was part of the lesson of battle, that to examine the way the body ached and pained was to better understand how one could fight in combat. However, in little games like this healing magic was necessary, especially when a leopard used a trick or two as Eros had.

Eros was an elegant leopard, average height for one of their kind so he was my height exactly. He had somehow grown his head-fur out to be long and kept it in a large braid, ringed three times by brilliant golden bands with a solitary jewel in each one. His torso was bare, and his waist clad in a Leopard kilt instead of a loincloth. His feet were equally naked, but he wore two gold bracelets on his wrists, each one decorated with violet jewels that caught the light in some mysterious way. I found myself watching with avid interest, putting some bread into my muzzle as I watched.

Another young warrior, barely out of his teenage years, stepped forward for a challenge. Eros had that annoying feline smirk on his face, and before we knew it the battle began. In a flash the warrior had lept forward, his large foot paws kicking up huge hunks of grit and sand, spraying the people behind him. Eros remained still for a split second longer. In an instant the young cat had raised one of his hands, extended his index finger and claw, and his wrist bucked. A flash of light, very quick and dim, appeared.

The warrior yelled out in pain and was on his side, holding a smoking wound on his bicep.

"I don't get it," Avalon said, still sitting close to me. I felt his hand on my thigh. "How did he get hurt? I couldn't see anything."

I smiled, and leaned my head a little bit to the side, resting it against the larger wolf's shoulder. It was warm and relaxing, and if Jeran saw I would simply say I was tired and using my guard for a pillow. "He's using a magic item. It's hard to follow but the bands are charged with some kind of power. When he extends his fingers a bolt of energy is released."

"You can SEE that?" Avalon asked. I felt his arm slowly shift from my thigh, briefly over my loincloth, and back, curling around my waist instead, resting his large paw against my flat stomach.

"I'm a strider," I said calmly, "My eyes aren't as sharp as a scouts, but I can see fast things."

The group of people around the ring were dispersing. Wolves wanted to see a fight, but when something happened so quick that no one saw anything but people with the sharpest of eyes, it got boring. I watched Eros look around, and saw those feline green eyes settle on me. "Slayn," He called out, putting one of his hands on his hip. "Fight me."

The crowd that had been going stopped, and looked at me. Avalon's hand was hidden by my vest and the table, but they weren't looking at me for that. Eros had challenged one of the Alpha Sect members to a fight. It wasn't often that happened.

"I can't."

"Oh?" The cat looked a little bored. "I thought you wolves loved a challenge. I know it must be boring to lose all the time."

I felt the wolves around me grow angry at the insult. I snorted. "It's not that," I began. "I am under orders from Arch himself not to fight for simple show and brag."

"And why would he do that?" A female leopard asked, obviously curious. I figured it wouldn't hurt to answer her request.

"I am the Strider-Alpha," I said with another bite of some fresh fruit, quickly chewing and swallowing. "My reputation is important, I can't just show off for no good reason."

"Fight him, Slayn."

I looked over my shoulder and saw Arch there. My eyes widened on the black furred wolf, who stood there in his powerful glory. Arch had decided for leather trousers today, foregoing the loincloth look. He always wore those pants low on his hips, revealing more of his stomach than the loincloth did, exposing the handsome V-cut shape of his stomach and hips. I found my face flushing. What I also found was Avalon's fingers pushing past the waistband of my loincloth, giving my sheath a rub.

In an instant the spell of Arch was broken and I was yanked back to realize Avalon was here, holding me, interested in me. I swallowed and shook my head, my face hot and my chest tight. "Thank you," I said very softly so only Avalon could hear. I could feel him pat my stomach and remove his hand so I could stand up. I did.

"Yes, I would love to see this miracle wolf fight, Arch." It was Apollo who spoke now. The leopard was wearing something similar to Arch, a simple pair of dark black leather trousers, but a sash was worn around his waist, and unlike Eros his head-fur was kept short. He was grinning broadly, obviously curious as all cats were.

I sighed. "Fine."

Walking a few steps away from the table, I moved past the now very large ring of people into the sand pit, which had been made smooth again by someone. I walked to one edge of the large circle, and stood across from Eros. The leopard was purring with delight.

"This should be fun!"

I grunted. "I don't want to fight. But my alpha ordered me to, and I'm not a warrior." I simply shifted my hands up to my vest, removing two of the short blades. They had smooth hilts that were wide at the base but narrowed up toward the butt of the short blade. It was so I could hook the hilt between my middle and ring fingers, and also easily throw them.

"Begin!" I heard Arch say.

Unlike the warriors I didn't run forward. That was dumb; rushing your enemy like that. Instead I shot to the right, beginning to circle the outer edge of the sand circle. I watched as Eros raised his arm and listened to the groans in the audience. Everyone thought this was going to be done in a matter of moments.

When I saw a flash of light I flicked my wrist outward, letting one of the blades leave my hand. With a wince I felt heat explode near my fingers, burning the fine tips of fur and sending bits of metal flying everywhere, a small bit cutting my left cheek.

Everyone was quiet as I deflected one of those purple beams of light.

"Oh," Eros said, shifting his stance from a bored posture to something a bit more serious. "You blocked it. But how many times can you do that? I count seven blades on your body, including the one remaining in your hand. Once you're out of blades, you're going to fall just as easily as any other wolf." Eros' voice, so jovial and arrogant, annoyed not only me but the people around us.

I watched as another blast of purple light flew, and again I threw my blade. This time I had been quicker so I didn't burn my fur, but the blade was gone, exploded into various bits of metal. I quickly unsheathed two more from my vest.

I decided to stop standing still and began to run again, running along the ring of the circle, heading for Eros in a wide arc. I was running as fast as my legs would allow, feeling the wind and the heat of the air hit my face. I was bringing my arm up to throw one of my blades when--

"Too slow," the cat said, firing not one, but two bolts. I had no choice but to throw my two blades, but the impact of two explosions so close knocked me backwards, sending me falling right onto my back, groaning in pain.

"Slayn!" I heard someone say. I looked to the side and saw Avalon standing near Arch and Apollo. He looked worried, or as worried as a wolf could. I had also spotted Jeran near Arch, muttering something softly that I couldn't see.

I rolled to my front, and as I got onto my knees I grabbed two more blades. I was down to four. I didn't even stand up. I simply twisted my body and threw those blades, firing them right at Eros. I shifted right up onto my feet and took off at a break neck sprint, running my fastest at Eros.

As expected I watched as he fired two bolts of light, one from each wrist. The explosion in front of me pushed smoke and grit into my fur, burning the tips of my ears and face, but I kept running. I broke through the smoke, bringing my hands to my vest, removing the last two blades I had.

"Too dumb," I heard Eros say, and found the leopard charging me. His palm was up and flat and I could see the energy collecting in his palm, glowing from the jewels set into the golden bracelet. I felt the flat palm push my stomach, firing its energy. Thankfully it was not condensed like those bolts, the effect more to make me fly, and boy did I fly.

I was airborn for a moment, and found myself hitting my back in the sand at my own edge of the ring, groaning as my fingers touched my stomach. There was no burn, no injury, but there was going to be a nasty bruise tomorrow. I had also let go of one of my knives in mid air, now down to one solitary blade.

I shifted to my feet and took off at another run, this time at the opposite direction that I had been trying. I watched Eros simply lift his wrist and fire. This time he wasn't aiming for me, but the ground in front of me. I yelped as the sand exploded under my feet, sending me toppling down and skidding into the sand, my face half buried in it. I groaned.

I was beginning to push up onto all fours when I heard a voice. Arch's. "Use it, Slayn. You have permission."

"It?" Avalon asked. Apollo had mirrored his question. Jeran apparently was not happy as I heard him protest.

"Yes, Alpha." I said, shifting onto all fours then, holding my stomach. I took a deep breath. It had been a long time since I had done this, I hoped I wouldn't make a mistake.

"Arch, you can't DO THIS. This is not what IT is meant for."

"Silence!" Arch growled, looking at Jeran. "It is my choice when one of my leaders can use it, and I choose now. Watch!"

"Whats happening, Arch?" Apollo asked.

I felt energy rushing through my body, which was pretty sore mind you. I could feel the gates unlocking, the flow of energy pumping through my veins. I felt the fur on my back stand on end, the tips of my ears twitch and my pupils contract. I felt the crackling of energy around me as I began to use it.

"My caern is lead by four people representing the four groups of the Half-Moon. Each of those leaders, Alpha in their own right, are blessed with a special gift. It is a power that has helped our caern survive for ages, and it is also a power people have fought over. None of them can use their power unless told to by myself directly. To do so without permission is instant death by my hand."

"And what is Slayn's gift?" Apollo asked again, still very curious.

"Wolf's Grace."

I felt the runes appearing. Lines of blue began to appear all over my body. A symbol, the Half-Moon's crest with a running wolf through the moon, appeared on my chest, illuminated by hidden, ancient magic. Four runes appeared, a language no one knew, on my hands and feet, glowing brightly. Lines of energy formed along the brow of my head, down the line of my muzzle and under my chin, going down my chin toward the crest I bore on my chest. Lines of runes and patterns appeared down my thighs, my calves, my back and even my ears. When the last rune connected to itself a crackling eruption like thunder echoed out, smoothing out the sand around my feet, blasting a force of pressure into the audience.

I heard a gasp, and Apollo's voice. "Eros this is serious!" I turned to look at the leopard Alpha. He was standing at the edge of the ring. "If you aren't careful you could die."

I didn't care at this point. I was angry, I was also embarrassed. I had to use my Gift to win a silly little duel. I would end this quickly.

I wasn't sure if anyone saw me, but my movement was almost six times my fastest sprint in a straight line. I was gone in a flash and behind Eros.

"Too slow," I said into his ear and slammed a foot into his back, sending the cat staggering forward.

As Eros groaned and tried to regain footing I had slipped forward, running past him and delivered a heavy punch to his face, sending the cat to the sand harshly. The rune increased my speed, strength, and stamina. The other leaders gifts were different, this one enhanced the quality that was the strider.

I watched Eros begin to stand, and I wouldn't let him get another blow off. I began to run around the circle's edge again, but so much faster. I saw Eros on his feet, looking around, confused. His arms were up, the bracelets glowing with energy. I watched him fire at me, but running so quickly around him the blasts just missed. He couldn't properly aim at a target that was a blurr to see.

I was running the circle tighter, speeding up. Stand began to kick up, following the rapid movement I was running. This was a speed I had only ever tried once, but a funnel of wind was being created around Eros, who was firing into the ring I was making trying to hit me. I did feel the burning heat of a bolt or two brush along my chest, along my head, but my eyes were sharp. I could see the bolt in its entirety now, the length of the energy, and could adjust my speed marginally so it would only graze me. Eros was using a power that was near light speed but he couldn't target quick enough. He was rendered useless.

When the ring I was running was tight and solitary around the cat, I began to lash out. Kicks were delivered, high kicks, knocking the cat into the air. Each blow was strong and powerful, sometimes an upper-cut punch to his jaw, working Eros slowly into the air as blows landed all over his body, using my speed to my advantage. When I had the cat a proper height in the air, about three feet off the sand, I lept into the air, and twisted, slamming my knee right into his chest, barreling a huge amount of strength into his chest, knocking Eros right into the sand. My wrist had been quick, cutting those golden bracelets from the cat's arms, collecting them as I crouched next to him. I stood tall then, holding the bracelets forward, looking at Arch, Jeran, Avalon and Apollo.

I watched Arch's eyes flash red. A warmth washed over me. I felt the fire quell the rune on my body and instantly my Gift was silenced, pushed deep into my body. The runes vanished and the glow faded. My head rushed and I felt a sickening burst of nausea take over. I stumbled forward, and nearly fell onto my knees.

I found Avalon there. He had caught me before I fell, my front against his chest, my body hot and sweaty. The Gift was an amazing bit of magic and ability, but at a cost. it affected the real body in straining ways. What surprised me was I felt a familiar hand on my back, rubbing through the fur.

"Avalon," Arch said, speaking gently. The alpha was rubbing my back. "Take Slayn home. I will send Renin to heal him personally." The alpha said strongly.

I felt Avalon pick me up, cradling me really. My body cried out. I used strength that wasn't mine, speed that wasn't honest, and my body was paying the price for using such a power. I managed to look over at Arch, who looked strong, tall and stoic as ever. It was hard to judge his emotions, or how he felt about how I had done. When I saw a smirk form on his face I laughed.

"Lets go home, Avalon."