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Dark Valley

Chapter Fifteen

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

3rd March, 2020

All Rights Reserved.

Spread around around the compound which was shrouded in darkness, the teams quietly reported in via their encrypted radios.

“Alpha, ready to breech, Beta and Charlie to support...”

Double clicks were received, as all the assault teams checked in and reported their readiness.

“Alpha, go!”

A loud explosion shook the night air, as the compound door was shattered by the specialised charges that had been placed upon it. As armoured forces charged, the sky was lit up with tracer fire, lasers and the stench of cordite. Screams – human, marsupial and something in between pealed forth, as the Enclave was assaulted. Loud explosions rang forth, the stattico barks of assault rifles and the louder cracks of bolt actions.

They had planned it meticulously – except they lacked what the Enclave had in abundance – hard intelligence on defences and strongholds within the complex. Six of their number fell through cunningly disguised pits, impaling themselves on sharpened stakes, their screams filling the air. For every human who was trapped, wounded or killed, the Therian's lost five of their ill-trained force.

Knowing that this fight was to the death, many of the Enclave dropped their weapons and their cries and moans as their feral forms swept over them only added to the bedlam and chaos. One of the humans rounded a corner, then he was slammed head first into a wall by a powerful set of feet. Sharp talons tore through the vest and flesh beneath, as he shrieked and felt the paws grab him by the shoulders – then his life ended in a spurt of arterial blood as the Therian resorted to its sharp teeth and tore out his carotid artery.

It become a wild slaughter, the hunters using their night vision against the Therian's – who had their own, natural born low light vision to compensate...but against the superior numbers and tactics the hunters employed, they quickly found themselves routed.

Some were merely wounded, their bodies writing on the ground as they screamed and moaned helplessly – before a hunter come to each of them. Cruelly, they were kicked onto their backs – silver blades driven through their skulls or as the hunter's mood took them – some were stabbed into lower backs – so they could watch as the Therian's shrieked and succumb to the effects of the silver.

Therian's fought as they'd never fought in over a thousand years – they knew their methods and tactics had atrophied, as they'd long forsaken their training and defence. They had been at peace with humanity for too long – and it showed on this night of massacre and bloodshed...

Even the young weren't saved – they were helpless – the eldest two does who stood as their carers and protectors, had been shot and the innocents, some literally helpless, had their throats slashed and left to die a torturous death.

Soon, even their High Council turned on the Therian's, murdering those they caught who tried to flee the hunters – indiscriminate and uncaring. They snarled and raged at their followers, urging them to fight to the death and kill the invaders – but the Therian's, now less than a dozen, found themselves helplessly and despondently lost.

*

Crouched on a nearby hill, the Werewolf's muzzle split apart in a feral grin, eyes widening as it looked down at the violence and bloodshed that spread from the compound out into the township itself. Wildly, both Kangaroo's and Wallabies scattered, humans in combat armour chased them and even turned on the innocent townspeople.

Now...now was its time, it was certain, such wanton death and suffering and...blood...the scent of it carried on the night air, made the wolf's salivary glands begin working overtime in expectation and hunger.

Now...

Now...the real hunt would begin...

*

Lying on his belly, the sniper peered through the scope, a grin spreading across his face as he flicked off the safety switch and rested his finger on the trigger. in the scope, he had the head of one of the Therian's who had plastered itself against a wall, in his cross-hairs...

"Say goodbye Skippy..." He murmured, right as he rested his finger on the trigger.

A hot, moist breath washed over his neck, making the hairs stand on end, before his eyes widened in abject terror...

"No..." he gasped, before his bladder let go beneath him.

*

Fleeing into the woods, the young Grey Kangaroo's eyes were wide, muzzle open and sweat slicking her fur as she panted heavily. Branches tore and slapped at her as she bounded wildly, seeking to escape.

Suddenly, she was yanked cruelly off her feet as a wire snare snapped around her throat and in seconds, she was clawing at her throat, toes barely able to touch the ground as she strangled.

“Well well, looks like it won't be such a boring night at all!” Spoke a young male voice, as he stepped out of the nearby blind.

“A deal is a deal - “ Spoke the older human, as he set aside his rifle and grinned. “I am man enough to admit when I'm wrong, I honestly didn't think one of these beasts would fall for this!”

They stood there, watching as the Doe choked and thrashed, until her struggles weakened. One slashed the wire that held her up and she crumbled to the ground, weak and near death.

“Be careful...” His friend insisted, as the one who'd cut her down come close. “Don't fall for it...”

With a snort, the first hunter looked down, then sank his boot savagely into her unprotected side. She barely twitched.

“She couldn't hurt a fly...maybe that snare was a bit too tight, well, better that than she actually be able to fight, give me a hand...”

Together, they bound her paws tightly behind her back with the wire, then affixed a leather collar around her neck, before throwing the rope over a branch and tying it off at the large D ring in the back of the collar. Together, they pulled until the Kangaroo hung there, her toes barely touching the ground as she croaked and struggled weakly, eyes wide in terror.

"Cry little Skippy, go on...plead and beg..." Spoke the man with the knife, as he waved it back and forth, then stroked the sharp blade across her belly and pouch. “You'd love to tear my throat out – wouldn't you?”

“Bah, just slit her open and let the crows have whats left, we don't have time to play games – it'd be nice though..”

With a lecherous grin, the first man smiled and winked at his friend. “Oh, I'm going to play alright...”

His friend grinned, then rolled his eyes. "I don't know how you can do what you're going to do to her...I'll be back, I'm going to go take a piss...you two lovebirds have fun..."

He walked off into the dark forest, shaking his head and chuckling to himself. As he unzipped and stood there, lost in thought, his stream arcing forth onto the soil; he heard a twig snap behind him.

"Finished already? Let me guess, you couldn't do it..." He laughed, as he shook it off and began to turn.

"No..." Come a low, animal-like voice, before the muzzle which had uttered the words parted in a blood soaked grin. "I can do it...just fine..."

With a scream, the human took off running, the Werewolf's grin widening as it loped after him. He screamed as he ran, until his breath turned hot and ragged and he couldn't scream anymore. At last, he stumbled and felt a sharp stitch forming in his side as he crawled on hands and knees a few more paces, then fell onto the forest floor.

“I do so love it when your kind run...your adrenaline and fear make the meat so much more... flavourful...”

It turned out he could still scream...for a good, long while...

*

Barely alive, the Doe's ears twitched and she closed her eyes. She could hear the sickening screams that emanated from the forest, yet she would not shed a tear for what had befallen the Hunter. It seemed as if it went on for an eternity, until at last, the cries ended in a choking gurgle and then silence.

Weakly, she opened her eyes, then gurgled as the rope was pulled tight and then severed, the Doe falling to the ground, helpless and weak. She couldn't fight – she could barely draw enough energy to breathe as she felt the rough paw pads of the Wolf grip her by the neck and drag her to her feet.

“Do it...” Sobbed the Doe, as she forced her eyelids open and stared into the bloodied muzzle of the snarling wolf. “Please...”

Pulling her closer, the Wolf frowned, confused and bewildered. This Kangaroo should have died from the mere sight of this beast – for such a weak prey like this to find such inner strength, it genuinely gave the Wolf pause.

“Kill me, please!” Panted the Doe.

Bringing it even closer, the Wolf inhaled the scent – the smell of its blood, the fear – it was intoxicating and powerful like an aphrodisiac – yet beneath it all...

Gently, the Wolf lowered the Doe to the ground, before it clumsily picked up the knife and severed the bonds that held her paws tied.

“I will not murder you young one...” Come the low voice behind her.

Dropping to all fours, the Doe crawled away, before she collapsed from fear and exhaustion, barely able to turn her head to look at the wolf.

“Our kind are forever enemies...” She rasped through her constricting throat.

“Not this time little one..for I know that which you protect...I can smell her, just as I can smell you...”

Her eyes widening, the Doe struggled to her feet and instinctively clasped her pouch with her black furred paws.

“Yes, I know you're with joey...this is why I will not kill you...”

With that, the Wolf turned and loped off into the forest, leaving the doe to clutch her head in her paws and begin heart-brokenly sobbing in relief.

*

Hunting the Therian's and the townsfolk, the black armoured humans didn't discriminate. They just as easily and callously tortured and killed innocent and combatant alike on this night of slaughter. Soon, fires swept from business to business, home to home, as the hunters spread out, searching for the handful of Therian's who had somehow escaped the compound in the confusion.

They had captured their leaders – who had proven capable fighters either unarmed, with weapons, or in their animal forms – yet the advanced weaponry and tactics of the hunters soon brought them to heel.

One by one, they were stood against the compound wall and executed by firing squad – their heads cut off and bodies dismembered, before being thrown onto the large pyre of the dead that had been lit.

As dawn slowly spread across the far horizon, they began to gather and count their losses. Out of a force of nearly a hundred – twenty survived unharmed, sixty were confirmed dead after an extensive search and the remainder were never found – either fled like cowards or their bodies disposed of by the Therian's.

“We have won a great battle here today - “ Spoke their leader, as he pointed at the severed heads of the Therian leadership that adorned the low wall to his right. “Grieve not for our comrades who gave their lives to rid this place of the beasts – for they would have shown no mercy or compassion!”

Looking around, he nodded.

“Those of you who have been bitten by these beasts, fear not – over the centuries we've learned how to cure the virus these creatures bear – step forwards if you've been infected, so we can administer the medications...”

Obediently, four stepped forwards, their arms in slings, legs bandaged or throats likewise covered. Two medics advanced, carrying a large tray on which syringes were laid out in a neat row. Taking one at a time, the Medic's injected their patients and stepped backwards.

“Sir – when will it...” One of the wounded asked.

Behind them, their colleagues raised their rifles and shot each of the infected once in the head, dropping them face first onto the ground.

“Let this be a lesson!” Snarled their commander. “A bite from these unhallowed beasts is incurable – now – and possibly forever! It is a kindness, to take your own life, by your own hand, than to be turned into such as they! Are we...”

“Sir?” Come a voice from the radio affixed to his belt.

Snatching it up, he answered. “What? This had better be...”

“You need to see this...sir - “

*

Surrounded by guards, the bloodied form of the werewolf shambled forwards. It held its paws close together, then knelt on the torn and blood spattered ground as if surrendering.

“What the hell is that - “ Someone screamed in fear.

“Keep it covered!” Shrieked their leader. “This is a rare prize indeed...I thought your kind had been exterminated a thousand years ago...”

Head bowed, the Wolf flattened its ears.

“Bring the restraints – now!”

Tail tucking between its legs, the Werewolf trembled in terror.

“Be afraid you filthy, mangy beast...be very afraid...”

As a Hunter stepped forwards to affix the shackles over its wrists, the Wolf suddenly snapped its bloodied jaws, stopping a hands-breadth away from his throat. With a scream, the Hunter dropped the shackles and fled.

With a mocking growl of laughter, the Wolf shook its head.

“Humans...”

Someone behind it brought the rifle butt crashing down on its nape and the wolf yelped, before it crumpled unconscious to the ground.

*

Agonising pain flared, snapping the wolf out of its darkness. With a savage growl, it trashed and found itself securely bound by its wrists, hanging about two feet off the floor, even its hind paws were manacled. Muscles ached and burned from the stress of gravity pulling at them, before it uttered a piercing howl of rage and frustration.

“Good, you're awake...” Come the voice of the Hunter's Commander. “Excellent...let us begin...”

Sizzling electricity surged through her body, making her trash and yelp – she couldn't help it – the pain built and built until she was sure her heart would surely burst like a cannon from her furred chest – before it mercifully ceased.

“Fascinating things...these new prods...” He muttered, then shocked her again, plunging it just above her tail.

This time, her yelps turned into full throated wails as she shrieked and bucked, unable to escape the agony that burned through her nerve endings.

As he lowered it, then walked around to face her, noting with satisfaction her head hung, saliva drooled from her muzzle and her body twitched and shuddered.

“Wouldn't you agree dear heart?” He asked sarcastically, lifting her chin with a nightstick.

“Fuck...you...” Come the weak gurgle.

“My my, such charming manners...but you'd like that, wouldn't you? I bet you've had many unwilling partners over your life – take what you want from them...then show them what you really are!”

He wound up and slammed the nightstick into her soft, vulnerable belly, making the air rush from her lungs as she thrashed in the chains.

“Now, how many of my people did you claim?”

“Is that...” Turning her head to the side, she spat blood onto the floor, before turning a golden glare on him. “All you want to know?”

Again, he beat her, this time savagely across the left thigh, almost hard enough to fracture it. Her whimper was like the finest music to his ears as he smiled up at her.

“I haven't started to hurt you yet puppy...” He chuckled good naturedly. “This is just foreplay – compared to what will happen to you...”

“I'm hoping so - “ Come the shuddering voice. “You hit like a puppy, really get in there and...”

Her words caused him to smash the nightstick across her muzzle this time and she yelped loud and long.

When she could, she opened her eyes and glared at him with malevolence and pure, feral rage, before a cruel smile spread across her muzzle.

“Not bad...I've had harder hits from a Therian...now they know how to fight...”

“I know what you're trying to do...it won't work, I can assure you of that...”

Raising an eyebrow, the Werewolf merely smiled mockingly and spat again.

“You'll break, sooner or later...when you do, you'll tell my superiors everything! We haven't had a Werewolf in our hands for over a hundred years...this promises to be most entertaining...”

With a dismissive grunt, she looked away, which earned her another blast from the super-charged prod, this time – under her chin. As the electricity seared down her nerve endings, consciousness fled and her body just convulsed and writhed.

*

Consciousness returned – barely – her muscles burned like fire, yet she fought back to full awareness, realising before her eyes opened, he'd left the chamber some time ago, as his scent was quite old and stale. Squeezing her eyes closed, she clenched her paws and took several gulping breaths, before she opened her eyes and let the change take her...

Bones snapped, fur and the muscles beneath rippled and melted, pain built on pain built on pain ravaged her – far worse than anything he had done, as she forced her change. Claws vanished, human skin appeared at her toes and fingertips, slowly spreading up the legs and arms as the entire skeletal system rearranged itself back into human form.

Without warning, the wrist restraints slipped from her arms and she fell heavily onto the floor, where she moaned and trembled. Agony consumed her – it was like her entire body was on fire – just like it felt that day she had slashed her hand with that silver letter opener...

At last, as naked as the day she'd been born, Selene lay curled up in the fetal position, the residual agony still over-firing already taut musculature and nerve endings. Hunger ravaged her, as forcing the change like this made her body burn through its reserves of energy at a terrifying pace. Weak as a newborn pup, Selene dragged herself across the floor to the door, then placed her back against the wall and using her hands, pulled her aching legs up so her feet were flat on the floor.

“Alright...you're going to stand up now...” Selene commanded herself.

She remained on the ground for longer than she expected – but eventually – her body responded to her mental orders...

*

In his make-shift office, the Officer reported his observations and news to his superiors via an encrypted satellite phone.

“Yes sir, we were successful in our operation to exterminate the Enclave – casualties were abnormally high – as it come with an unexpected benefit...we've captured a Canis Lupis...yes sir, a bonafide Werewolf...of course sir, we're taking all appropriate measures to confine it, her I mean – yes sir – it's a female, approximately thirty years of age, its difficult to tell sir...yes sir...of course...goodbye.”

Hanging up the sat-phone, he glared at it in frustration and annoyance.

“Critical care my ass...” he muttered.

Lifting his head, he admired the overhead sprinklers – sprinklers he knew – wouldn't dispense water, but a liquefied silver nitrate. His finger brushed over the covered button on the desk – that would activate the system – in case of catastrophic containment failure, or so the manual said.

Basically, it'd horrifically kill any Therian or Were creature in an unimagined and horrific way. Their top scientists had experimented with various methodology in the past century – and this one proved to be the cruellest they had yet come up with...

He was still horrified by the video he had seen of a young Therian subjected to the effects in a controlled environmental study of its lethality...

His musing was shattered as his office door swung open and a young woman backed in drawing a lunch cart with her. He ignored her, then gestured in an offhand way.

“Just leave it over there...”

*

Padding down the hall, the Wolf's ears twitched and nose inhaled the myriad scents of this strange place. Ir has to be careful, yet quick as well – for it doubted its disappearance from the holding cage would be ignored for long...

It paused before a door marked security. With a malicious grin that spread across the muzzle, it quietly turned the lever-like handle and opened the door.

Inside, the room was well lit. A human wearing a baseball cap sat at a computer, blissfully typing away on the keyboard before him. He was oblivious, right until the moment he was violently spun around in his chair, then his eyes widened as he found himself nose to nose – literally- with a grinning werewolf...

“Hi...” It whispered.

There was a sickening crunch and a choking gurgle, before the pneumatic door hissed closed.

*

When at last the Werewolf was finished its bloody, grisly task, it had accounted for almost all of the survivors of the massacre. Only a few remained and as it licked away the gore and blood from its paws, it grinned to itself.

Two it had surprised in a blind hallway, they'd stood and stared – side by side – at the wolf that towered a good foot or more over them. It just crossed both paws over its chest, then lashed out in the span of a single heartbeat. Both humans dropped like potato sacks, their throats torn out and blood gushing through their clutching hands.

Leaving them to die, it prowled about, looking into laboratory rooms, offices and even a mess hall. Here, it seen one of the last members, a young man who sat with his back to the door as he sipped a cup of coffee and a half eaten sandwich sat at his left hand.

Barely breathing, the wolf crouched and crept forwards on all four feet, inch by inch, towards the unsuspecting human. He continued his oblivious existence, not realising that death was now within easy pouncing rage...

Something stayed its merciless rage, as the human stood and pushed his chair backwards. Seeing an opportunity that was too good to resist, the Werewolf stood and violently shoved the human hard from behind, forcing him down onto the table and scattering his cup and plate that shattered on the floor.

He had the good graces not to cry out, as he felt the hot, fetid breath on his neck and the incredible warmth of the lupine body that easily pinned him down.

“Please...” He begged, tears sliding down his cheeks. “I don't want to die, I'll do anything you want, I swear...”

Using one paw, it gripped him by the shirt and pulled backwards, before twisting him around and once again, slamming him down on the table, pinning him with one paw on his chest. Looking down at him, the wolf snorted in disgust and irritation, its furred lips curling backwards to reveal long, powerful canines that gleamed in the light.

“You're but a child...” Come the low growl as the wolf's eyes narrowed to mere slits.

As he opened his mouth to protest this, it placed a paw over his whole face and squeezed lightly, the claws scratching at the tabletop.

“Shush...” It whispered, then released him and continued to stare down at him. “Listen well, for your very life depends on the answers you're about to give me..nod once if you understand.”

He nodded just as it instructed.

“Wonderful...now, where can I find your Alpha?”

“My...”

With a frustrated growl, the Werewolf sighed and frowned, deep in thought for a moment. “He who gives the orders, where is he?”

“He...he's in his office probably, down the hall, turn right, straight ahead, can't miss it...please, I don't want to die...I never wanted any part of this and...”

Snapping its jaws mere inches from his terrified face, the Wolf snorted through its nostrils and shook its head.

“I will let you live – child – on one provisional promise...” It leaned closer, nearly touching noses with him. “You abandon this life. You are young, very young, you have much to live for and a long, happy life to live. Do you understand me?”

Tearfully, its victim nodded eagerly.

“However – that will not entirely be up to me... You will take a message back to your alpha, this – person – who orders you? He is not your alpha – an alpha rules his pack with will and strength. You humans could learn a lot from my people. You will tell them, that I know what they have done here – of I care little for the Therian's, a weak-willed and easily trapped distant offshoot. If anything, you have done my people a great favour in culling their kind.”

Eyes wide, his mind absorbed everything the Werewolf said.

“They will not hunt me and mine – for your technology and weaponry, whilst impressive, is a crutch and a weakness I fully exploited this night. Do you want to know how many of your pathetic whelps I personally killed? No? I thought not... Now, I have spoken, heed my warning and my will, for I know your scent child, and whilst I am assured your blood and flesh are most sweet indeed...”

It favoured him with a wide, wolfish grin.

“If you try to break your promise, you will never find respite for your crimes. If not me, then one of my kind will find you, for we take our promises to our graves... I will let you live – this I promise you – I can not make that promise for those you formerly served...now...”

Rising, the Werewolf pulled him upright and lifted his head with one paw, gazing into his tearful eyes.

“You should start running now...before my hunger gets the best of me...”

He fled...

To Be Continued...