FSE

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A week after my first ever trip to a brothel, and not the first time I had destroyed a building, I was informed that we were going to an ice planet. Nothing much was known about it, save it's atmosphere, and I arrived on Saturday morning with a spring in my step. Draco was walking with me, although he had caught wind of what I had down to the dragon who had owned the place, and had made me promise not to do it to him.I had laughed when I heard him say it.

Yesterday, I had terrified Gareth and Alecto, and they had been talking about it secretly with Draco and Silverine, they had an idea for Central New Year because of it. I had been doing a old school function, and before the rugby match, we did our old school haka. I had been aware of this, and turned up in the traditional Maori war clothing.

The old maori wore an plant based skirt, the maori name for it escapes me, and that's it. It was freezing but Kohana's protection from cold was still working, and probably would until death.

So in this skirt, I had led thirty of my fellows in the war dance. The haka was a war dance, meant to get the blood boiling, and was used by the Maori before any big battle. I was holding a taiaha, A six foot carved wooden staff, immensely hard and lethal, and I stood amongst the thirty, staring at the pupils of my old school. I took a step, and shouted out the chant.

"Taringa whakarongo, kiarite, kiarite, kiamau!"

All thirty of the old pupils bent at the knees, hands on their knees, staring daggers at their 'opposition'.

"E ringa whaitia, Aue tukua, e pakeha!" this was following by the sharp slap of thirty men slapping their knees and shouting a response. They continued the beating, in a fast rhythm, and one or two were stomping their feet in time as well. The thumps echoed.

"Aue takahia A ka kino!" I shouted, and everyone began moving forwards with a series of threatening gestures, shouting the same thing.

"Ka kino, a ka kino. Au,(advance) au, auea! Turuki turuki,(rowing gestures like that of a war canoe) paneke paneke! A ha ha! Kowai te aroha te pouri! Kia wetaweta, (slashing gestures across the chest) ksss wetaweta,ksss wetaweta, ksss! A ti (hit the right fist with left hand) , a te (hit right forearm with left hand) , a tou (hit inner arm with left hand) , he!" this was followed by every one going into the first pose, and scowling at the audience.

There was huge applause for us, and we walked off the pitch and watched the rugby. Our team won, I think the score was 32-25 or something. But I went home, and decided to do the same thing to Gareth, see how the fox would react. I waited by the window until I heard the fox moving about in the main room, and then teleported.

Alecto was there also, sitting on the couch, and as I began the verse that everyone shouted, he jumped back in terror. Gareth backed away, and I noticed Ryan Lewis had frozen on the ladder, they didn't have this in America.

As the chanter, I had different gestures with my taiaha, and the wooden staff whirled as I shouted. Alecto looked cautiously from behind the couch, Gareth was still backing towards the door, and as I shouted the final he, I brought the end of the staff hard onto the wooden floor with a loud thump, and stared coldly at the foxes. Alecto was shivering, and Ryan was the first to unfreeze.

"Er, Alduin, is that you?"

I smiled, and became natural again, holding the taiaha across my shoulder.

"Yes it is, this is what I've been doing today, what do you think?"

"Bloody hell." Alecto muttered, breathing deeply,"I thought you were angry at us."

I explained the concept, and they immediately thought of doing it at Central New Year. If we roped in the dragons and Silverine, the haka would be absolutely terrifying. They disappeared back to Central after dinner to discuss it with Draco and a few of the others. Silverine responded after ten minutes, he would be delighted to learn this, haka.

I turned up for Central as usual, at about 5:30, except I decided to wear my Maori clothing and carry my taiaha. Draco talked about it, and seemed keen. But there was an extra surprise for us when we turned up at the Great Hall. The traditional glower was there, as was Kodey and Silverine, but Time Dancer and Ryan Lewis were already there, and they were coming with us. Time Dancer made an acidic comment about my dress, and I responded by practically shrieking the last lines of the haka, and she jumped back, snarling defiance.

Silverine laughed." Ridiculously intimidating, Alduin. Culture has a lot to answer for. You will have to teach me it."

Draco spoke. "Bags wearing war paint when we do it to the newcomers at the Hunt!"

I laughed."Wear what ever you will, I will wear this and some war make up of my own. The Maori did things, in a special way."

Time Dancer stopped bristling, Salbar stopped looking wary, and Javid smiled at the clicks of my grass skirt.

"And you're going to a snowy planet, in that?"

"I am, and I'm pinging, I imagine."

I did, and after a minute of teleportation landed on one knee, holding my taiaha in one hand, in almost knee deep snow. My glasses clicked and recorded, and I spoke in the frosty air, my breath crystallising as I spoke.

"Temperature, chilly, really chilly. Atmosphere breathable. Gravity 9/10 standard. Single sun system." I looked around and saw I had landed in a forest. All the trees were covered in snow, this had been a long winter since these trees had given leaf. Everything was silent, and I scanned around for life, seeing nothing.

"Right, is everyone wrapped up warm?"

"Give us two minutes." Silverine replied. The Lupogriff himself would be coming with us, and everyone was switching into winter gear.

That meant Silverine and Simba wore these long bear fur cloaks that we had used on the winter world all those months ago. Draco was wearing one, and Ryan had gotten some black polar fleeces and a jacket or two from Earth. Salbar was wearing one of them. Both Javid and Time dancer were also wearing bulky cold temperature clothes, I was the only one wearing nothing substantial. Draco's one must have been for show.I accepted a black T-shirt from Ryan, he had brought me my Black Parade T-shirt, and I took off my bag, slotting it on.

Due to the fact I was playing dress up, I had not brought my RPG, my sword or much of any weight. I had my rifle, that was O.K., they had them in WW1, and my kit bag, which had food, water and ammo for the rifle only. It was about three times lighter than usual. I strapped it back on, and we began to look around.

We searched around for about ten minutes, and then we heard a distant noise from down wind.

It was the howling of many creatures, and it sounded like wolves. Javid looked interested.

"I think I know what's coming, and I know what they want."

"They must have caught our scent." Draco added, looking towards the unearthly howls.

"Right, who's going to leave?" Silverine asked.

"Everyone but me and one other."I replied, and before they spoke added," You guys get on with your work, if they want to try and kill me, they'll find it difficult."

"I'm staying with you." Time Dancer said, in a tone that forbade argument. Silverine nodded, and Draco picked up Ryan, flying off, Javid was likewise borne aloft by Silverine, and Salbar leapt from tree to tree going to opposite way from the wolves howling. They seemed to be getting closer. Time Dancer whispered into her head set, asking Abigail for a snowmobile. I smiled, and she caught my glance.

"I'm staying until you run. I'm not having a male lead by himself."

"I like you, Time Dancer. You are so feminist it is wonderful to be with you."

"I take that was supposed to be a compliment. Males always try and prove they are better than women at things, I'm here to prove them wrong."

I smiled."Excellent. You're proving only one thing, that Time Dancer herself is a bold and courageous canine.Can you see them yet?"

"No." she was scanning that direction, and she shook her head," They are moving this way quickly, but they must be behind a ridge or something."

We waited another thirty seconds, before the ridge in question erupted wolves.

They were quite large for wolves, they stood at almost four feet, and were a sleek silver colour, which made them look extremely handsome. Their muscles were thick, and on each of their foreheads was a coal black diamond. I looked casually at them, and without looking anywhere else, spoke to Time Dancer.

"I don't suppose you carry silver weaponry."

"What?" she looked confused," No, I don't, why?"

"Traditionally, humans who can morph into wolves are called werewolves, and they only die if you kill them with silver."

She looked at me with a weird look."You and your legends."

"Humans are good at story telling, I could go on for hours about werewolves."

"You have about fifteen seconds." she replied, as her snow mobile arrived. The black device arrived suddenly, and she leaned on it as the wolves kept coming. I raised the taiaha, high over my head, ready to whack at anything that came too close. I shifted into my bionic form, and just before the first wolf sprung, looked in astonishment as it stopped running and looked at me.

All of these creatures, in fact, came to a halt, surrounding us in a reasonable sized circle. They didn't seem to want to attack us, with was nice, and one exceptionally hairy one trotted two steps further in, and began to change.

A werewolf, in my book, changes into a human. This was not the case here. It was undoubtedly female, completely naked, and yet was still quite wolfish. Her ears were on the top of her head, her eyes were black and penetrating, her hair was long and silvery. Then as we went down her body was human, but was covered in the same fur. Her hands and feet were clawed and more padded, with no opposable thumb. Furthermore, like some of our foxy companions, their legs were reversed to humans, the legs bent forward, and the feet were definitely pads.

She looked absolutely striking, and very lethal. Time Dancer was actually looking warmly towards this creature, maybe they had the same thing in common, dominant feminists who despised anyone trying to be more powerful. Why the fuck was I here, just let them two talk. I thought this briefly, and contained the giggle in time, looking haughtily at this creature. She drew herself up, and stared at us.

"What do two creatures have to do here, in our forest?" she growled at us, and her claws, while down at her sides, were extended for attack, in case we did something.

Time Dancer leaned against her snow mobile again. " We are explorers, our arrival spot randomly chosen. We were just leaving, although if one of you was prepared to talk to us, we could exchange information."

"You are exploring this area? What is your name?"

"Time Dancer, what is yours?"

"Time Dancer." the wolven female looked at her," My name is Seriphine, and you would be wise to obey my orders expressly. You have wandered into our domain, and the penalty for that is death. Now why are you exploring this area?Talk, it will increase your life span."

I smiled, at home with these threats. "We come from another galaxy, Seriphine, we aren't exploring this forest in general, just this planet. We knew it contained life, and we were prepared to meet said life to see how it reacted to us."

She stared at me, and scowled. Yep, feminist to the core, she did not like this male talking to her.

"You are?"

"Alduin Raptormaster, human from the Westernesse."

"Well, Alduin, you carry a weapon, you came for a fight."

"I came in case there was a fight. You wouldn't be the first natives who's tried to set teeth to me."

Time Dancer, showing a bit more wisdom than me, placed a paw on my shoulder.

"Seriphine, we intend to leave. Where is the nearest exit from this forest?"

Seriphine laughed, a howl that was echoed amongst the rest of the pack. There were at least two dozen here, and I felt nervous at this alien laughter.

"You come here and expect to leave?" Seriphine smiled nastily.

I turned and gave her a five hundred watt stare.

"Seriphine, my name is Alduin Raptormaster. I have been a scout for the last two years, and during that time I have been attacked by creatures you could not begin to imagine. And yet I am still here. What does that tell you about my ability, and about Time Dancer's? We are not to be trifled with, and attacking me will only result in your pain." I brought my taiaha hard into my forearm, and the resultant clang echoed in the sudden silence. Time Dancer mounted her snow mobile, looking at me and Seriphine.

But the werewolf would not be cowed."If you speak the truth, then you will pass a test to prove your ability."

"What test would this be?"

"Fourteen miles that way is our town. Our race live there, easily five hundred of us. We will give you five minutes head start, and if you get there before we bring you down, we will talk more. Fail, and you will only be our food. Time Dancer, this applies to you as well."

Time Dancer clicked a button on her glasses, setting a stop watch." Five minutes starting, now!" she gunned the engine and the snow mobile rocketed off through the forest. I laughed, saluted Seriphine and sprinted through the forest. She looked astonished at this. Time Dancer was very quickly lost to view, and I ran quickly. To make it fair on them I would not use my forms, but they could not kill me, not with my bionics.

"This could put a dampener on our relationship!" I shouted gaily behind me as I ran over a ridge and down a hill. Draco blasted overhead in his F-111 form, and he came onto my wavelength.

"Right, you two are going to meet the locals, what are we doing?"

"You do what you will.You have always done what you will." I chuckled, breaking into my loping stride, and sensible rhythm. The dragon flew off, and Silverine spoke.

"We are travelling in two different directions to you, we will try and find other life. We will make our own way back to Central, if that's O.K?"

"Perfectly, Silverine. Don't forget to page me if you need help."

"Ha!" the Lupogriff replied, and disconnected.

I ran spiritedly, not at full tilt, and before long even Time's snow mobile could no longer be heard. The problem with anyone doing this is 14 miles would take about two hours, and the wolves could run a lot faster than that. I would need to be cunning. They could smell my scent, so there was no point in back tracking, they could run many times faster in this snow. I didn't really want to have to beat any of them with my taiaha or even with my bare fist, but it looked as though that would happen.

I thought all of this as I ran, and after five minutes, I heard a not too distant howling. I maybe had covered, almost, a mile. Time rang cheerfully onto my headset.

"Hey, Alduin, I'm already past the first obstacle."

"What's that?"

"There's a river about five hundred metres in front of you," she shouted over the top of her motorised vehicle," and it's rather wide. But it's very slow moving, and Abigail's ion modifications meant I could generate enough power to drive across it."

"Ah, the old Jesus ride." I laughed at the idea of the snow mobile hydroplaning across the water.

O.K., river, how to get across the river without swimming. The wolves would swim, I could probably swim, but not as fast. Unless I could somehow climb a tree and get across that way, I would need to fly in my Raptor form. Very well, fly across, but no further than the other bank, I didn't want too much of an unfair advantage.

I ran for another five hundred metres, crested a verge, and saw the river. It was about forty yards across, and as I looked back could already see the werewolves coming. They certainly didn't waste their time. I turned back, ran at the river, and jumped.

Halfway through my leap, I changed into my Raptor, and ignited both engines, rocketing across the river at about two feet in height. I landed on the opposite bank, and changed,landing heavily in the soft snow. It was not a neat landing, and as I scrambled to my feet, I saw the wolves coming over the ridge. They could not believe what they had just seen, I had got across the water with no help. Apparently they wanted to have caught me by the waterside, so I'd have been trapped. Well, too bad for them.

I turned and ran through the forest. Wolves liked swimming as much as Draco liked his ass being taken, but they'd do it occasionally. Seriphine would certainly not be stopped by the water, she wanted to catch me herself, I saw the look she had given me.

Time Dancer occasionally rang in to make snide comments about her progress, she was already halfway there, while I struggled past the two mile mark. My breathing was heavy, but I had run further with full kit, and I was only carrying my taiaha.

Apparently the wolves had a bridge further upstream, which is why after another half an hour, and another two miles covered, I heard them howling, and quite close to me. Time Dancer heard through my headset, and called in to mention she was almost there. I scowled, and ran a bit harder. My breath was crystallising in the cold, the hunt was well and truly on, and I could hear the howls as my lead diminished. This was looking more and more likely like the beginning of a scrap, and I took off up a tree, climbing up the dead branches with adrenalin pumping. Climbing was more exhausting, but wolves were no good with trees.

The trees were thick, which meant travelling from tree to tree was pretty easy. Unfortunately it also meant my progress could be seen for a mile around, and the twenty wolves in pursuit homed onto the trees I was using. Ten of them continued after Time Dancer, there wasn't much point, but ten howled underneath my tree, trying to put me off my tightrope efforts.

This game continued for about forty minutes, where upon I had gotten six miles in total, and Time Dancer announced cheerfully she was at the village. She had mentioned Seriphine's challenge, and the werewolves had taken her to some warm lodgings while they waited for her to turn up.

Seriphine herself changed into her half human form as she followed my progress.

"Give it up, Alduin, you cannot do this forever!"

"I'm game, we'll see who rusts first!" I shouted back," Time Dancer has already made it to your village!"

Seriphine paused, looking astonished, but recovered magnificently."But you will not, and even less if you continue this acrobatic fooling around!"

"Would you prefer me to beat the crap out of you? I've seen what happens there, it's not pretty."

There was a pause from below, apparently my over confident threats were troubling. I was feeling pretty happy about this until my branch broke. My reflexes went into overdrive as one hand caught the next branch on my way down, and I ended up five metres above Seriphine, taiaha in one hand, a bent branch in the other. Seriphine looked up, somewhat amused.

"You are failing to impress me, Alduin."

"Well, that's nothing new." I said, precariously. I swung back and forth, trying to hoist myself onto the branch. Underneath me nine wolves yipped and sprung, trying to grab at my feet.

Seriphine began climbing the tree I was hanging onto, and I sighed.

"You are severely limiting my options, Seriphine. Don't ask me to hurt your companions."

"You over estimate your abilities, child. You look very young, even for one of your race."

"Seriphine, there isn't a dragon that could pierce my steel skin. If you make me fall off, I will have to hurt your companions."

"We shall see." she was on the branch now, and she shinnied out, her hands next to mine.

I couldn't resist saying the first thing that came to my mind.

"You really do look beautiful from down here." She looked, just for a second, surprised, and then quickly hid it with a look of affronted disdain.

"Trying to make passes at me will not make me lenient, Alduin." she said coldly.

"Just as well, I prefer dominating women. Why do you think I enjoy Time Dancer's company? We knock the sparks off one another so often it isn't funny."

She hesitated, but her manner quickly took over.

"Prepare yourself." she took my hand firmly, and I smiled.

"I thought so. Soft skinned, hard manner, beautiful, you can't possibly be single." I laughed, clenching my taiaha. She stopped, looking shrewdly at me.

"You have to be the most, irritating, annoying," she started.

"Accurate?" I offered.

She paused, and then rolled her eyes, nodding,"Accurate individual I've ever come across." she prised my fingers off the wood and pulled me up until we were at eye level, dangling me above her companions. I smiled.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't have a chance, trying to have sex with you. You are the tribal leader, aren't you?"

"That is correct."

"Thought so. I see it in my superiors, they have become accustomed to their post, they will not accept any, deviation. Now let go, and watch the fur fly."

She did so, and I fell. I landed right on top of the wolves, and landed hard on one of them. My taiaha swung round in a circle, which allowed me time to get up. One was down from the fall, and I used my weapon as it should be, like a club.

Seriphine watched as I began a very peculiar fight. I was trying to fend them off, trying to knock them out, while they were trying to tear me to shreds. Their teeth gripped my steel, and they tried to tug me over, but they seldom got enough leverage to pull me off my feet. The taiaha bounced off their flanks, my punches landed solidly, and while I had the breath crushed out of me and their bites left me sore, I came to a halt in a circle of unconscious wolves, rubbing my shoulder in reflection.

Seriphine jumped down from the tree, landed next to me, and began checking the state of her friends. She looked at me with annoyance, and yet surprise.

"I did say I didn't want to, Seriphine, but I was left with no other option."

"I know, Alduin. I am exceptionally furious. We are fighting something that can't be beaten, and yet you show no wish to hurt us."

"I am used to being attacked. It's a hazard in this job."I leaned against the tree, while Seriphine stood coldly, surveying me.

"You are not like us. We do not let others gain an advantage, like you do. We fight to the death, you merely fight gently."

"You were raised by a harsh world. So was I, until I was given this ability of bionics. Now natural creatures cannot kill me, and so I have no wish to kill them. They do not understand me, and that is because I am not of their world."

"So what are your plans now, Alduin?" she asked, growling.

"I've got another nine miles to run." I looked at my stop watch in my headset.

She scowled. "Even if my friends came around before you got to the town, you would just beat them again."

"That is true. Can you take me on my word that I am a perfectly reasonable person to deal with?"

"Dinner doesn't normally converse with the predator like this."

"Dinner doesn't normally have no weakness. Even my genitalia, my ears, all the weak points on my body, are steel, you cannot seriously harm me."

She scowled."Very well, you win.What do you want to know of us?"

"First, let's get somewhere warmer. I prefer a fire to open forest, and I imagine you do also."

The first of the wolves began to stir, and Seriphine looked at me." We will run, as we always have. Can you go any faster?"

"I can."I changed into my old car form. I had known about the snow, and so had chosen the Audi Quattro form to drive with. Seriphine stared, in confusion.

"You can change shape like us, but in different ways.You are more like us than we thought."

"I wanted to give you a chance, rather than use these. If it's any consolation, I know no pack hunters who were faster, more cunning and lethal than you lot. It's just your mark on this occasion...."

"Was unbeatable." she finished sharply, my flattery was getting to her. I revved the engine and drove off through the snow. Seriphine changed and ran after me.

I drove, she ran, and we kept side by side. Only twice did I have to change form, both because of huge snow drifts, and after the second one noticed all the rest of the wolves had caught up. Seriphine had told them reluctantly that they weren't to attack me, and after half an hour we pulled up at the town.

Wooden buildings, stone chimneys, and roads. Well, cleared bits of ground, everywhere else was still deep snow. I stopped at the end of the high street, and Seriphine stopped next to me.

"Does it ever stop snowing here?"

"This is how it is every day, day in, day out, for most of the year. The rest of the year it is lush and green, but not for very long."

"So what do you eat?"

"They are many animals in the forest, and on the plains.We also cultivate vegetables, although they are mostly reserve food for when we can't get the sufficient food from the hunting."

I gunned it down the street, the wolves in hot pursuit, following Time Dancer's tracker,and the fact her snow mobile was still parked on the street, and drove straight up to the small building she was in. Smoke rose from the chimney, and I changed into my bionic form and walked in. I had been getting a lot of strange looks by this time.

Time Dancer was sitting in front of the fire, eating a snack she had brought with her. This place actually had two fires, and Seriphine came in by herself, changing into her half human form. She went to the second fire, and sat down, curling up in front of it, with her back to it, and looked at the two of us.

Time Dancer had been left alone, it was only the three of us in the room, and I brought out a mandarin, peeling it and eating it while sitting next between Seriphine and Time Dancer, getting a bit of warmth from both fires. Time turned and sat with her back to the fire, looking expectantly at Seriphine, while the wolven woman looked back at us.

"So what is this exploring thing you do?" Seriphine asked.

"Very simply,"I swallowed," Our job is to find the life forms on the planets we visit, record data about their race, technology, behaviour, etc, and it all gets compiled together back at our head quarters."

Seriphine yawned briefly."You are all different creatures?"

There was a series of thumping noises, and Draco appeared in Time Dancer's fireplace, blowing soot off himself. Seriphine got up onto her hands and knees, growling,and I raised a hand.

"Seriphine, please don't attack Draco. He will win, and you will probably get a dragon fucking you. I know, he does it to me."

She looked warily, and settled back down. Draco sat down next to Time.

"Sorry, I was just checking on you two." he admitted,"Ryan and Silverine have gone and found a somewhat warmer climate, that's where Salbar is too, and Javid is currently in the mountains South of here, with a scanner, picking up a hell of a lot of data.I'm just going back to him."

"We're O.K., thanks Draco. Seriphine was just wondering about Central, and how different we all are."

"That is true. I wouldn't know where to begin." the dragon nodded at the woman, and after a few more comments the dragon climbed back up the chimney and took off.