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Act III: Predator and Prey

Eddie brushed off the front of his sweatshirt to clear it from the bark. He'd all but hugged the tree the whole way down those steps, not giving even half a damn about whether or not Toby would laugh at him. He all but melted with relief when his feet found the grass, but he refused to let himself act a fool.

Toby lead Eddie back at the same, brisk pace that had made the walk to the eagle's nest so nearly-unbearable. The moon was now higher overhead, and the breeze had picked up, allowing for the silverlight to play across the undergrowth in playful waves of motion. Now at least, he was slightly more accustomed to how the wolf moved through the trees, and had trained his eyes to be able to spot Toby's movements, and subtle changes.

Or at least, he'd thought he had.

More than once, Eddie lost sight of Toby, only to catch the streak of fur pass by some close distance away, zigzagging through the trees as if he was trying to lose Eddie in the brush.

The return trip was considerably faster, despite the constant switchbacking--Toby now moving with an increased sense of purpose through the forest. Even while he tried to keep up, Eddie couldn't help but to glance upward at the occasional flashes of red he'd seen on the platform. To his renewed surprise, he saw they were those Cunts with Wings; turned out that they weren't just roided out wasps, but also mutant fireflies.

He couldn't wait to get home. It was a thought that overrode the desire to look around even, as they went down the hatch, through the stairs and back into the village, Toby still clutching the paper.

"We forgot to take down the star map thing," Eddie said after they'd returned to the village. Toby simply shrugged, and said nothing in return. "The big post in the center with all those straps on it? That seems important... It was getting kind of windy up there."

Toby continued his stoic silence, passing the paper wordlessly to one of the guards that stood near the double doors that served as the entrance from the giant hall, down to the village. The lupine he gave the marked paper to nodded, bowing deeply before hurrying off toward the staircase that spiraled up toward the uncomfortably high bridges above them.

"So, what next?" Eddie pressed, trying to break Toby's silence. The wolf snorted back at him, only to lead him down through the village once more. Eddie felt his own scowl deepen, only to immediately relent as he realized they were headed down toward the Chieftain's circle.

No sooner had Eddie's foot landed on that final bit of grassy ground than did he catch the pups skitter outward toward the edges of the circle. He tried not to grin at the thought of them peering around those dirt columns at him, focusing instead on following Toby, who seemed deadset on approaching the chief, who sat in the center of the circle.

"Chief Emyr," Toby said, bowing as he approached. "I have recalled the other hunters."

The wizzened wolf blinked, then straightened his back as much as he could, leaning heavily on a stave for support. Eddie felt terrible, watching the elderly wolf's knees quake in effort to stand. "Recalled them...? Why?" The elder asked, his voice sounding rather stern for the news.

"When I took the Elderfolk to the star watch, the forest was alive with the glows of the Jyntur, as well as the warding torches," Toby explained. "The Nocturns are far more active than we feared."

Chief Emyr nodded solemnly. "We shall prepare for it."

"How?" Eddie cut in, stepping forward.

"The hunters shall convene, and hunt one of the Nocturns." Chief Emyr replied simply.

"Let me help!" Eddie said, looking up to Toby. "I haven't been much use for much else. At least I know that I can do that!"

"Did you not assist Tobriatas with the map of the stars?" Chief Emyr asked slowly, his grayed features turning slightly.

"I went with him, but I was hardly any sort of help!" Eddie said with a small, dejected sigh.

"It was an honor to be accompanied by the Elderfolk," Toby said, trying to speak over the top of him. Eddie shot the wolf a glare, but then turned his head to Chief Emyr, who nodded slowly.

"You wish to be of true assistance... do you not see that your presence is an honor to us?" The Chief asked. There wasn't a bit of insult in his voice--and Eddie found that surprising. He seemed genuinely concerned.

He fought the urge to shake his head as he spoke. "It's not that, Chief. It's more that I am hoping to be of a more tangible help. I understand how you feel, but..." Eddie's voice trailed off a bit before he inhaled sharply, then closed his eyes. "But I feel like I've been more of a burden."

Chief Emyr nodded solemnly. "We shall speak with the other hunters when they come. But what we must keep our minds on is to return you to the Elderfolk's home in the west."

Eddie nodded solemnly, turning his head back over his shoulder to the entrance of the Chief's den. Somehow, he felt as if he'd either insulted, or hurt the old wolf's feelings.

"The other hunters should return by nightfall," Toby cut in. "Eddie, we should prepare you to leave for the morning."

Eddie nodded, not saying so much as a word before turning his head to look upwards. His eyes traveled the natural spiral that the entire city was built around, stopping to rest only at the lanterns so high above his head. He found himself now more than ever, curious about the world that Toby called his own.

What did they tell the cubs, about the world outside? Did the wolves ever let them venture out? Certainly not alone, but, was there a coming-of-age ordeal? Questions began to boil in Eddie's mind. He couldn't help it.

Toby had said 'communion of earth and sky'. Had he been referring to cell phones? Was there another form of communication that had sprung up since this... well, whenever Eddie was.

The questions continued their onslaught, but Eddie didn't dare to open his mouth and request any answers. He felt like enough of a burden, now that the hunters were returning from important work--food, presumably (they were hunters after all)--he couldn't bring himself to be nosy. Eddie desperately wanted to be, though.

He moved back to his bunk, and looked over his shoulder, only to see Toby climbing into the bunk across from him. "So how many hunters are there?" He asked at length.

"Nearly three dozen," Toby said simply. "There were more... but many died fighting a nocturn."

"Nocturns, huh?" Eddie asked, his brow furrowing in distaste at the mere mention of them. "What are they like?" He asked at length, glaring forward at nothing in particular.

"I've not ever seen one," Toby admitted. "But I have heard they are a horrific sight to behold. Other hunters do not speak of them often."

"Are there any that have seen them?" Eddie pressed, wetting his lips.

"There is four in this village, yes," Toby said, almost too quickly. "Another six in a neighboring tribe--"

"There are more Theron tribes?"

"Yes," Toby said, still responding a touch too quickly for Eddie's liking. The wolf continued unflinchingly in the face of Eddie's questions. "Tharstor, Ragnar, Orion and Icarus have all seen a Nocturn," the wolf mumbled up towards the ceiling of his bunk. "Orion lost an eye to it. But that is all that I truly know."

"Has anyone ever... y'know... killed one?" Eddie asked, his voice dropping. Toby sat up at that, not making any eye contact with him, but Toby was visibly shocked at the mere thought.

"I'm not entirely certain that anyone has," Toby muttered. "Though we should speak with the Elder about i--"

"I want to help hunt one." Eddie said firmly, not even entirely certain of where the idea came from. But, somehow, he felt adamant about it.

Toby's dumbfounded expression fell to Eddie, whose gaze steeled.

"You what?" Toby asked, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.

"I want to help hunt one. Kill one, if we can," Eddie restated--uncertain of where the sudden resolve had come from. No matter. As far as he was concerned, the wolves had done more than enough, harboring him for free. This could be his chance to give back. "I think that we--,"

"Will discuss it with the other hunters," Toby said, almost snapping at Eddie. "But what you are proposing is reckless at best. Do not convince yourself that anything shall come of it."

Eddie shrugged. "Love the idea or hate it--," he replied simply. "I get the feeling that the Nocturn isn't gonna be as tough as everyone thinks it will be on the business end of an AR-15."

Toby's stern gaze flickered with confusion, and Eddie nodded almost immediately after he noticed it. "Aaaaand you don't know what that is," Eddie muttered to himself. "That's right."

"Indeed," Toby said, rising to his feet as the human turned his back.

Eddie ducked toward his bunk, wetting his lips as he gently picked up his rifle, and cleared it, before handing the weapon over to Toby. He slid the magazine into his sweatshirt pocket, grinning some to himself as the wolf held the rifle in a single paw. It seemed comically small--only three of Toby's fingers able to wrap about the pistol grip. Eddie wasn't even certain that the wolf's massive fingers would even enter the trigger well comfortably, much less be able to accurately fire the weapon.

The thought by itself made Eddie chuckle, and Toby arched an eyebrow his way. "Is something amusing?"

Eddie bit his lip, then nodded. "That rifle was not sized to seven-foot-tall wolves at all."

Toby grunted goodnaturedly at Eddie, then handed the rifle back to him. "At any rate, I believe that I would prefer my own weaponry," Toby said. Eddie opened his mouth, almost ready to ask about what sort of weapons that the wolves would use, only for Toby's head to turn toward the open area of the city. "Hunters have returned."

Toby strode towards the mouth of the cave--but Eddie beat him to the arch. The pups down below yipped their excitement, even Eddie felt a small rush of relief to know that the hunters would be home soon. He couldn't imagine what the others must have felt.

As soon as he reached the main pathway, one of the pups streaked by him, scampering on all fours up the stairs and towards the doorway. He'd not even had time to completely turn around and look upwards toward the guarded entryway before he heard the sounds of an ecstatic family reunion. "Do we head up?" Eddie asked, his neck craning upward--he even stood on his tip toes to try and get a better view of what was going on.

"Quite the opposite," Toby murmured, placing a massive paw on Eddie's shoulder. "We must go down to see the chief, Elder."

"Ahh... right..." Eddie remembered, his voice dropping. "Getting me back to the Elderfolk place."

Toby nodded curtly, then kneaded Eddie's shoulder softly. "We should get moving," the wolf murmured. "The faster we return you, the faster you may return to your family."

Eddie nodded, his resolve hardening only for a moment. It disappeared immediately as he heard a happy yip come from above him. His eyes trailed up that direction once more as other pups sprinted that way, and a grin split his features even as he turned his back, and followed Toby down toward the chief's cove.

"They were not as far as I suspected," Chief Emyr muttered as Toby and Eddie approached. "I do hope that all has gone well."

"Seconded," Eddie said, almost automatically. "How long does it usually take for the hunters to return completely?"

"Nearly three days, but immediately after a Howl, Elderfolk," a new voice came from behind Eddie.

He turned, and his jaw nearly went slack. "Orion," Toby said as the trio turned. Toby bowed low in respect for the other, new lupine in view. The creature was utterly massive.

Head and shoulders taller than even Toby this new wolf--Orion, Toby had named him--was nothing if not a mountain of meat. Eddie could see that this wolf's muscled had muscles, even through his pelt; the midnight-black wolf's chest, even a bit on his arms and neck showed signs of a hard, scarred life, culminating in a leather wrap that covered the left half of his face to presumably act as an eyepatch. One of his ear-tips was missing, and the ear that was completely intact was pierced, twice.

Eddie couldn't help but wonder if some of the scars were from the Nocturn. He had to bite back a small laugh, however. With wolf standing, naked as the day he was born, it was clear from where Eddie stood that Orion had the... well, the stones to take on a Nocturn.

Eddie glanced toward Toby and Chief Emyr, then nearly yelped as he noticed both of the others bowing. He quickly followed suit, and Orion gave a throaty rumble. "The Elderfolk seems confused," the wolf said, tilting his head downward, then bowing low. "It is I that should pay respect to you."

Eddie cleared his throat, then stood up, his back straightening almost immediately as Orion spoke. With the size of that particular wolf, he didn't dare try and do anything that would offend. "Of cours--" he began, only to blink.

The other hunters had arrived, and Eddie wasn't entirely sure of how to react. Before him, the hunters, one and all, were bowing. How long they'd been there, Eddie didn't know--he'd been so busy staring at Orion, he hadn't noticed them enter. His eyes darted along the sea of furred backs that spread before him, counting one, even up to one and a half dozen furred backs. He couldn't help but to glance down to Toby, but the wolf didn't return his gaze.

Was he supposed to do something? Was there something that he was supposed to say? Were they waiting for some rallying call or...? Fuck.

Eddie bit his lip, continuing to glance around until the situation became far too awkward for him to bear. He leaned over toward Chief Emyr, who knelt behind him. "Is there something that I've gotta be doing, right now?" he asked, his voice just above a hiss.

"You may instruct us to rise at your leis--" Chief Emyr began.

"You may all stand, if you choose!" Eddie called immediately, interrupting Chief Emyr as the wolf spoke. It was far, far too awkward-feeling for him to have the wolves bowing to him.

Almost as if they had practiced, the wolves rose to their feet in a single movement. The synchronicity made Eddie retreat a step, and all eyes rested on him. He nearly melted with relief when Chief Emyr stepped forward to claim the spotlight.

"We are honored by the presence of an Elderfolk," Chief Emyr called to the furthest reaches of the village. All eyes centered on the wizzened wolf, who leaned heavily on his stave for support. "But, the time of our host is coming to a close. The Elderfolk wishes to return to his home, and we shall oblige him!"

Eddie couldn't help but feel a small bit of blush run to his face. He hadn't ever felt so important before, and it felt like Chief Emyr was pulling out all of the stops. He grinned some, only to feel a slight rush to his head that made him teeter on his feet.

The hell? He wondered to himself, shaking his head violently to clear it. It was then that he felt his stomach growl. It was loud enough to make Toby glance in Eddie's direction, and if Toby had heard it... Eddie took another, small step back.

"... and there shall be a feast, in his honor!" Chief Emyr shouted. Eddie wasn't sure what the Chief had said before hand--but his brain tuned back in the instant that he heard mention of 'food'. Or, perhaps it was less his brain, and more his stomach. Either way, he almost couldn't stop himself from drooling at the thought of an eight-ounce, medium steak, with a basket of french fries and a small side of steamed vegetables...

He had to swallow so that the drool wouldn't escape his mouth.

Eddie shook his head, then glanced toward Chief Emyr. Apparently, he'd missed the rest of the benediction of the chief's speech, because any able set of hands ("paws...?" Eddie wondered to himself; he still hadn't decided) were already moving, dashing about in some choreographed fanfare.

Several of the hunters moved up the staircase, and began tossing ropes to one another from across the way to create a rope lattice, not dissimilar from the star map so high above them. The wolves then darted about, hanging lanterns, and bustling to and fro--it was all that Eddie could do to duck out of their way.

He felt oddly flattered by the endless movements--all on his behalf, as the wolves set about preparing a feast, pulling resources and setting things into motion from seemingly nowhere. It was almost as if they had saved these items for specifically this use, but Eddie didn't want to think too hard on it, it made him feel too grandiose.

Instead, he found that the most out-of-the-way place for him was on the topmost rung of the sunken city; hear the now unguarded doorway leading to the forest above. He paced back and forth in front of it for a few minutes, occasionally casting a wary glance down to the activity below.

The closest thing that Eddie could liken the sight to would have been some sort of Chinese festival of lights ceremony. The once haphazardly thrown ropes had been woven into something of a net, with glass balls, filled to the brim with Tsosin flies, making the grassy gnoll glow a brilliant shade of gold. From the outside looking in, it appeared to be a little drop of heavenly light. It made a warm, content smile split Eddie's features.

His trance was broken only a moment later, however, and he turned back toward the double doors. Eyes narrowing, Eddie felt his hand instinctively move to his hip to rest on the grip of the pistol. He withdrew it from its holster, holding it low as he glared toward the unguarded door.

There was a scraping sound coming from the other side; he could hear it far more clearly now. He glanced over his shoulder almost nervously at first--wondering if he should perhaps alert one of the hunters to the potential danger. But... seeing all of them move as they were--seeing how happy the actually seemed, even if they weren't grinning... Eddie almost immediately decided it would have made him sick to his stomach to take that away from them.

He kept the pistol low, moving toward the door before raising a cautious hand to swing it open. The door groaned a bit more loudly than Eddie intended for it--and at first opportunity, he shoved it open with his shoulder, and raised his pistol--just in case.

As Eddie swung the door open, he swung the pistol upwards toward the center-mass of whatever target may have been--provided that it was roughly his height, that was. He was alarmed to find the barrel of his pistol all but disappear into some stunning white belly-fur. His eyes trailed upwards, and found that he was now all but face-to-face with another of the Theron hunters and that, unlike the others, which had been garbed in at least a loincloth of sorts, this particular beast was entirely naked.

The hunter on the other side of the door took a small step backwards, but didn't appear particularly fazed until he noticed that Eddie wasn't a wolf, and that he was holding a gun. The Theron immediately retreated several steps, dropping the object he'd been carrying as he bowed low. "Elderfolk," the wolf said, almost reflexively. "I was not aware that you were to join us. I apologize sincerely for damages I may have caused to your property."

"My property...?" Eddie began, glancing warily down to what the wolf had been dragging. His jaw nearly hit the ground--a cocktail of emotions that he couldn't quite identify, all turning into a rock in the bottom of his stomach.

At the hunter's feet, there was a door. Just a car door--gunmetal gray, and immediately identifiable as some form of Jeep. Eddie knew; he'd loved his Grand Cherokee to pieces; and by the gnarled look of steel, jutting out from the door hinges, it appeared that the hunter had twisted the door completely off of the frame. It was horrifying to think the wolf as that strong--and it was equally maddening to know that the wolf had so willingly damaged a car.

"Where did you get that!" Eddie cried, shoving the pistol back into its holster before he knelt next to the door. He felt as if it was a dog, laying there dead at his feet; there was just something so morbidly out of place, with the Jeep door laying there as it was. He lifted it, just to see that it was in fact what he assumed it was, and was even further disdained that he was right.

"There is a clearing not far, Elderfolk," the wolf bowed low, still retreating. "The beast did not stir after it rolled down the hill toward where I was resting. Had I been slower, I would have not escaped its path--"

"Icarus, what is wrong?" Toby snapped from somewhere behind Eddie.

Eddie hardly heard the rest of the conversation, lifting the door--inspecting it as if it was some sort of long lost treasure. It was obviously a Jeep! It had most of the badges, even if they looked more sleek and sci-fi, but it was definitely there. He wasn't sure what model it was because that was the only badge that was missing from the door.

"Eddie," Toby said after a moment of speaking with the other wolf. "Are you well?"

"I'm... I'm not sure..." Eddie muttered, still looking down at the door as if it were a wounded old friend. "I'm just... well, I'm just trying to piece it all together, and... where did you say you got this?"

"The Crags, Elder," the first wolf muttered, bowing his head low. "Came rolling down the mountain at me."

"The Crags?" Eddie asked, glancing over his shoulder toward Toby, who wet his lips carefully.

"Where I found you, Eddie," Toby muttered in return, the wolf reaching down to hoist the vehicle door off of the ground with frightening ease. "We shall search there tomorrow,"

"Okay." Eddie said entirely too quickly.

"--and the meal is being prepared for you now," Toby continued, unabated by Eddie's interruption. "We shall feast to your health, and then, at dawn move outward toward the Elder temple."

"Where did you find this...?" Eddie asked, lifting the door with both of his hands. The thing was heavy--easily made out of solid steel. The construction only compounded just how strong the Theron actually where. It almost made Eddie nervous.

"There is a hill, nearly a quarter-days trail from the village." The wolf said, bowing his head low. Eddie blinked up at the wolf that had dragged the door in, then back toward Toby, who leaned forward to clarify.

"Which direction was this, Icarus?" Toby asked authoritatively.

The wolf stretched out an arm, as if to point to the hill. "There's an unnatur'l clearing of the trees, Tobriatas," the wolf explained. "It looks like they'd been moved--hewn to the grass in some bald patch--"

"Was this anywhere nearby?" Eddie blurted. Something gave him the vague notion that it was the same hill he had rolled down himself, but he couldn't be certain... Not without checking for himself.

"Half a day, Elderfolk," Icarus bowed low as he addressed Eddie--despite the repetitive nature of the gesture, he still wasn't used to it. "Out east, beyond the crags."

Eddie fell silent for a moment, then glanced to Toby. "Crags?"

"The outcroppings where I had found you, Eddie." Toby clarified.

His eyes went wide and his head snapped back in Icarus' direction. "You've got to show me!" he cried, taking a step forward. His excitement made the wolf retreat a step, and one of Toby's massive paws clapped down onto Eddie's shoulder. He could feel the wolf lean forward, and found himself shivering as Toby murmured into his ear.

"It is wildly disrespectful, Elderfolk or otherwise, to not attend a feast held in your honor," Toby reminded Eddie. "Please... I doubt that the... thing--" Toby said, grunting down toward the door at their feet. "Will have moved far by the time that it takes for a nice meal to be had, and a nap... wouldn't you agree?"

"Fair enough," Eddie grumbled, taking one last glance down at the door before he allowed Icarus and Toby to lead him back into the village.

The once-sleepy cave was now alight with activity. An energy was in the air that made the entire system feel electric. Sounds of pups were louder than they had been, obviously playing about even more freely than they had, and Eddie could hear the sound of a flute being played. Some of the Theron even kept time with the music by clapping, or slapping together sticks.

Eddie looked over the railing down at the party from the railing near the doorway, and didn't even try and stop a grin.

Tsosin lanterns were hung from ropes, making the village glow orange as the Theron beneath them seemed to finally relax. The once reticent population looked as if they had a sort of square-dance, or some form of renaissance-faire type of celebration. While there was no table for the food, Eddie saw it in a neat line along the edges of the lowest ring, near the Chief's abode. Icarus moved on, but Toby stood next to Eddie as he found himself drinking in the sight.

"I didn't know you guys even knew how to relax," Eddie chuckled, glancing up toward Toby. The wolf tried to remain stone-faced, but Eddie caught the barest hint of a smile at the corners of Toby's mouth. "Not usually much reason to celebrate, is there...?"

"The presence of the Elderfolk is always a cause for celebration," Toby murmured gently, nudging Eddie to move down the stairs. "Come quickly now--you are expected."

"Is there anything that I should know to do before this whole thing is over and--" Eddie began.

"Yes," Toby interrupted. "It is customary for the Elderfolk to give a tale of wonder for the pups... Something to inspire a communion, and brotherly bond amongst them."

Eddie nearly froze in place, rather than follow Toby. A story? A knot was tied in his stomach--this wasn't his forte--in fact, it was anything but. What would he tell them about? The time that his uncle took him to a range to fire about a thousand rounds through a machine gun? The time that they used dynamite to go fishing? What would the pups even understand?

"Wait like, now, or before I head out?" Eddie asked, his mind still racing for any sort of answer whatsoever to the question. Toby looked back at him, the wolf's expression still as unreadable as it had ever been.

"Before the end of the feast, of course," Toby said with the slightest of tilts toward Eddie. "Certainly you know how to behave around the village... Each of the Elders before you have known more than--"

"I'm not from the other Elders though!" Eddie hissed. "I thought that was kind of clear when I showed up and didn't know what the hell was going on!"

Toby whirled about to face Eddie, and took a step in his direction that nearly made him fall backwards. The wolf's jaw locked--Eddie could see that much, and the bite in his voice. "I know that, and the Chief knows that," the wolf snapped. "But for you to wallow in it, and be helpless in the face of the facts--"

"I'm not being helpless," Eddie challenged, only to be instantly silenced when Toby took another step forward.

"You have asked what you can do to assist us, and we have had nothing for you until now," Toby snarled. "Do not shirk this opportunity."

"It doesn't have to be a story about me does it?" Eddie squeaked, trying his damnedest to not shrink too far away from Toby, who snorted. "I'll take that as a no?"

"You either have lead a pitiable life, or possess an unenviable memory." Toby grunted, turning back and striding irately toward the rest of the gathering. Eddie bit his lip nervously, then took a long, slow breath. He wasn't sure if Toby was wrong or not, but the snapping felt something close to excessive.

He couldn't help but wonder if his presence was starting to irritate Toby. After all, he'd pulled the wolves away from their hunt--what if they were low on food? What if the feast was putting them into dire--

Eddie couldn't think on it any more. Bile was starting to rise to the back of his throat, threatening to make him sick. No. He couldn't think about putting any more strain on these wolves. Especially the thought of the pups going hungry because of his actions.

"I'm gonna make this right," he muttered to no one in particular, feeling his resolve steel at the thought of it.

Toby lead him further down the stairs, almost comfortable with the distance that Eddie lagged behind. As he approached, he noticed that the music was quieting down, and the wolves began to line up--shoulder to shoulder, to make a lane for him. He swallowed a lump that formed in his throat, making his way through the lane that was created for him, until he was just outside of Chief Emyr's hovel. He turned around, and the wolves continued to watch him--he almost didn't notice a pair dart away from the lines to go and fetch what had been prepared.

The stares were beginning to make him feel uncomfortable, and they continued to do so until Chief Emyr limped to Eddie's side, and put a reassuring paw on his chest. "They are here in honor of you, our esteemed guest," Emyr murmured with a tired smile. "Let us celebrate the occasion, that an Elder made his way to us to share his knowledge!"

The Theron nodded, grinning wordlessly amongst themselves as rotisseries of some form of mystery meat were brought out, and set at strategic intervals between the wolves, allowing each pair of paws to grab the meat at will.

The meal was not quite what Eddie expected, even if he wasn't sure what he thought it would be. It was obvious that the Theron's main diets consisted of some sort of deer (Eddie couldn't identify it--the meat looked discolored from either seasoning, or rot), and the Cunts with Wings. He couldn't bring himself to eat much, even found himself glancing longingly toward the backpack that contained his MREs.

He contented himself with watching the Theron for the time being, transfixed at the sight as they tore into the bizarre, off-red meat of the deer, and the wasp from hell. He sat for the longest time--what felt like hours--before Emyr cleared his throat, and spoke in a voice that carried to the furthest heights of the village. "On this rare occasion, we are honored by the Elderfolk, Eddie, who graces us with his presence."

The wolves stopped immediately--freezing as Chief Emyr spoke, only to return their clutching paws toward their laps. Eddie blinked at the sight, each of the wolves bowing their heads low, almost as if they were ashamed of doing something out of turn. Silence plagued the area, and the chief looked about, casting his long muzzle to and fro across the rows of silent lupines.

The Theron all kept their heads bowed, but Eddie thought that he could hear mumblings of... well, something, coming from the crowd. Chief Emyr didn't pay any attention, wetting his lips before continuing. "At the noon sun, Tobriatas shall depart with the Elderfolk to return him home. Should any others volunteer themselves for this journey--"

"That won't be necessary," Eddie hissed over toward Emyr, who spared him only a glance before nodding slowly. "If I can get back to that ca--artifact--of mine, I should be just fine!" Eddie tried reassuring the wolf with a grin, but Emyr looked anything but amused.

"The Elderfolk insists that it shall not be necessary," Emyr finished his sentence, before moving to seat himself.

Silence overcame the hollow once more, and the Elder bowed his head low, keeping one of his paws raised high in the air. There was another moment of silence, before the entire pack began to murmur what Eddie could have only described as a prayer; "We bless this communion, and pray that it in return shall strengthen us."

He wet his lips as the silence persisted--suddenly very uncomfortable. No one told him that he was supposed to say anything--if he was supposed to say anything! Was this something that Toby should have gone over with him? Was he supposed to speak in order to fill the silence? His mind raced, and he felt his palms begin to sweat. The sinking feeling in his stomach was only magnified when he heard one of the warriors clear their throat meaningfully.

Chief Emyr tapped his cane, then straightened up as far as his bent frame would allow him. "At the dawn light, Tobriatas and Icarus escort the Elderfolk away from our humble home," Emyr announced, before turning to Eddie and bowing low. "We are honored that you have visited us in this hour, Eddie of the Elders."

The crowd parroted the phrase, but it didn't sound like the insincere drone of a congregation, as Eddie thought it would. He could feel the gratitude in their voices, and it only made his stomach twist over further. He hadn't even done anything, but somehow, his mere presence was just.... Special.

He couldn't wrap his head around it. The only thing he'd done is occupy a bunk for the last two days, and... well, he hadn't even eaten anything they'd cooked for him. There was nothing in Eddie's life he could have likened it to; but it was almost as if they expected him to be some sort of messiah. He didn't know what to think.

Eddie sat there, not even daring to touch his food as he zoned out in stunned silence. His absent-minded gaze attracted some attention, but no one was willing to stare back, it seemed... no one willing to give Eddie a hint as to what he was supposed to do, or say.

The feast lasted until the last of the meat was picked from the bones, only for the festive atmosphere to disappear just alongside the remains, leaving Eddie to sit at the head of the former banquet area alone.

It took one of the pup's noses against the hand in his lap to fully snap him out of his trance. He glanced down toward the pup that had come close, chuckling softly as he recognized it immediately as the same pup that had approached him to begin with. "Hey," Eddie said, almost lethargically. "How are--,"

"Are you going to tell us a story, Elder?" The pup asked eagerly, and entirely too quickly. The furry munchkin's tail was ablaze in an entirely-too-damn-cute display, as the pup's big, brown eyes centered on him. Eddie had completely forgotten that he was intended to tell them at least something before they headed off to bed. Tradition, and all that.

The next bit of trouble was that his mind was drawing from a deck's worth of blanks. "Of course!" He said, before even having considered what he was doing. The pup yipped in excitement, and turned on his back legs just to run in a four-legged sprint toward one of the nearby caves. It took a moment for Eddie to drag himself to his feet and give chase. He didn't bother to brush off his pants, figuring that he was just going to be sitting back in the dirt anyways.

The cave that he'd seen the pup run into was different from the rest--darker, and slightly more foreboding. Eddie paused just outside of the cave, and squinted, trying to get a better look down the narrow shaft that veered hard to the right. There wasn't anything down there--no Tsosin flies, or anything. It was as if the cave itself was specifically designed to be the one spot that the golden glow wouldn't touch, and that made Eddie particularly nervous.

They just had a banquet in your honor, Eddie told himself. They wouldn't do anything stupid, like... well, wouldn't they? He felt a lump form in his throat, and his hand went instinctively toward the pistol on his side.

He stepped forward cautiously, leaning his chest forward as he turned his head from side to side, trying to get a good look at the corners of the doorway. Just as he expected--but not as he feared--there was nothing there. He froze in place, halfway through the door as he heard a few short, pained yips, and quite a few 'shushing' sounds.

A few more steps in, and Eddie found the source. The pups were all ready for bed, it appeared, and for what Eddie could see, they were all in one giant, squirming pile of fuzz in the middle of a den, with only a single, Tsosin lantern expertly concealed in the dirt above. There was barely enough light to see, but what light there was reflected out of dozens of eyes that all centered on Eddie just as quickly as the squirming mass froze.

His mind went blank again, and he didn't entirely know what to think or say. The pile of pups stared back in eager anticipation, more than one tail wagging furiously--whether on the top of the pile or no--as they waited for Eddie to speak.

"Story," Eddie muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Right."

Nothing came to mind. A calculated, glaring, ab-so-fucking-lutely nothing came to mind. "So...!" Eddie began, clapping his hands together. The pups all twitched back at the sound, as if they were somehow pushed back by the near... shout.

Shout.

It dawned on Eddie that he didn't have to come up with a story... He knew plenty, and a grin began to spread across his features. "Gather round, munchkins!" Eddie said, beckoning them all forward as he sat in the dirt himself. "Let me tell you a story--a legend, among the Elderfolk--!"

No sooner had he sat down than the pups rushed him. They fought for a moment over who would sit across Eddie's lap, only to completely reform the dog-pile with Eddie somewhere near the center. They buried him three and four squirming bodies deep in the pile, and Eddie couldn't help but laugh as he tried to speak over them. "The legend of the one who is born a man, with the soul of a dragon! The Dovahkiin!"

***

Author's Note:

If you ever find yourself trapped in a time warp and expected to give a semblance of story to the local fauna, or their young, please avoid copyrighted works.

***

Extracting himself from the pile of pups proved more difficult that he imagined it would be--and Eddie didn't expect anything but an uphill battle. The entire clog seemed to move with him, like they'd just congealed around his body. He couldn't stretch his legs out without kicking one of them, or at the very least nudging them, and no other adults were there to help save him from his fate.

It took nearly an hour to get himself free of the squirming masses, having woken each of the pups up at least once in his efforts. Toby was--blessedly--waiting just outside of the cavern for him. "You should rest," Toby grunted at him. "We have a long way to travel tomorrow."

"Back to the spot that you found me?" Eddie offered, praying that he was right. Toby gave a solemn nod, and Eddie wet his lips, then nodded. "Right... at least I know where it's at... ish."

"What had you fascinated with the relic that Icarus brought back with him?" Toby all but demanded, leaning forward some. Their earlier spat had seemed all but forgotten to the wolf, but the thought of the growling Theron still gave Eddie pause.

"It's a car door," Eddie said stiffly, clearing his throat and straightening his back. "From a type of car I actually kind of like."

Toby waited for a moment, looking expectantly to Eddie before speaking. "And a car is...?"

"Oh, right..." Eddie mumbled. "A car is something that humans--I mean, Elderfolk--used to use to get around. We had roads and highways and... well, stuff like that..." He finished, his voice trailing off a bit. "Anyways, if we want to get to that place where the Elderfolk are supposed to be, that SUV is our best bet."

"Ess-you-vee?" Toby asked, blinking. He mulled the phrase over, as if he was tasting the word for a moment before Eddie clarified.

"Sport utility vehicle."

"Why not just say that?" Toby pressed, arching an eyebrow, and crossing his arms.

Eddie paused, then wet his lips diplomatically before offering a slight grin to Toby. "Can I just leave it at 'humans are weird', and be done with it?"

"For now." Toby said gruffly, stepping aside to allow Eddie to pass. "You should rest. Dawn is in a few hours."

"What are you going to do?" The human asked, trying to keep a bit of exhaustion out of his voice.

"It is my shift to guard the pups," Toby mumbled, stepping to the mouth of the cave they occupied. "Though, when you are rested--," he continued before Eddie could get too far away. "I would like to hear more of this, 'Dragonborn', and the lands of 'Skyrim'." Toby said, the wolf clearly trying to not seem amused by the stories.

Eddie gave a small, dry laugh. "No... Nick would probably kill me if he knew I told you about that."

Toby's ears perked and he arched an eyebrow. "Nick?"

Eddie waved his hand, grinning over his shoulder as he walked away. "Long story," he chuckled, making his way back up to his cot in the caverns above.

***

Sleep avoided Eddie for the longest time, his mind racing with the possibilities of what could happen with the Jeep, and what would happen when he reached the Elder Temple. Would they be able to send him back home? Would he wake back up and realize he'd just dreamed the whole thing?

There were too many questions, and not enough time to answer them all. By the time sleep came, Toby had arrived as well.

"It's dawn, Elder," the wolf said softly, reaching down to rouse Eddie. Toby's paw rested heavily upon his shoulder, but he didn't stir until the Theron began to move him. "We should move quickly."

Eddie nodded, his eyes drifting closed again for only a moment before he sat up. His muscles felt stiff, and he locked his jaw as he bit back a groan. Slipping on his backpack without so much as a word, Eddie also picked up his rifle--checked it, then put the sling over his shoulder to a near-ready position. He gave a small hop, and tightened the straps of his backpack just for good measure before nodding up to Toby.

That was all the signal the wolf needed to lead the way.

The atmosphere had turned somber, and Eddie could feel all eyes drift toward him. He kept his head low, and tried to keep his gaze focused on the ground in front of him--watching Toby's heels more than anything else. He could feel the static in the air, and knew that there was more than one pair of eyes that was sad to see him go, or worse... begging him to stay.

He mulled over the reality of the situation he faced, wetting his lips carefully as he tried to reconcile it all. He hadn't even done anything to deserve the heaps of praise and hubbub that he'd been given. Hell, what he had done, he hadn't even done well.

After a few moments of trying, Eddie decided that it was just something that he couldn't understand; not in the time that he had at least. He lifted his gaze as they crested the final staircase to the main gate of the community, even straightened his back dutifully.

Chief Emyr stood near the open doorway, and a trio of wolves stood next to him, dressed to the nines with what appeared to be some sort of warpaint, and tribal fighting gear. Streaks of yellows and blues hued the otherwise various shades of gray--each one of them meticulously drawn. Eddie had half a mind to ask what they all meant, but the sobering quiet had already crept into his bones.

He stepped to Chief Emyr, who bowed his head low. "You have honored us deeply, with your time spent here, Elderfolk," the wolf said, his voice sounding far stronger than it had in conversations past. The wizened wolf straightened his back, and stood to his tallest. Even though he still leaned on his staff for support, the wolf's sunken chest managed to puff out, and Eddie couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as the wolf continued to speak. "We hope that you will honor us again, by allowing us to guide you to your home once more."

Eddie wet his lips, searching for just a moment to find the proper words. Saying something as simple as 'yes' felt so far beneath the situation that Eddie didn't even know where to begin. Fuck... He thought to himself, chewing the inside of his lip for just a moment.

"The honor would be mine, Chief Emyr," Eddie said after a moment, bowing his own head low. "Thank you for your hospitality."

The Chief bowed again, and Eddie turned to walk through the open door, and into the grand-hall-like room that had directly preceded the village. He walked dutifully forward in a straight line, directly toward the stairs that lead upwards. He could hear the heavy footfalls of four wolves behind him, but he only immediately recognized Toby's.

He took only the quickest of glances over his shoulders, trying to see if he recognized any of the wolves beyond Tobriatas--or whatever Toby's actual name was. Icarus was there, as well as the grizzled wolf that Toby had called 'Orion'. Eddie didn't recognize the final wolf though, and made a mental note to get his name before they dropped him off.

He lead the wolves up the suffocatingly narrow stairs, but allowed them to take the lead after they reached the forest floor. "Thank you guys, for this," Eddie said as they passed him. None of them spoke so much as a word--only the one wolf, Orion, gave him so much as a nod. The fourth wolf--the one that Eddie didn't recognize, wasn't among them.

"Hey, where is--"

"Arrokas is on guard detail," Orion spoke over his shoulder. "But we've got to hurry; nightfall catches the unaware."

Eddie nodded, then jogged for just a moment to catch back up with the wolves. The path back to the spot where Eddie had tumbled down the hillside was more winding that he remembered. He chalked it up to the fact that it had been night, rather than morning when he'd first travelled the trails as well as the fact he was now following not one, but three guides.

They didn't rest either--at least not in any capacity that allowed for Eddie to really catch his breath after the second or third hour of such a brisk pace. He was drenched with sweat by the time that they reached the base of the mountain--and Eddie finally recognized the gentle curve of the path that he'd first walked after his landing.

"H... how much longer?" Eddie panted, reaching up to wipe off some of the sweat from his brow.

"We should be there before high noon at this pace," Icarus replied. Eddie fought a groan at the wolf's words, but nodded. He wasn't entirely certain he'd be able to keep up for another half-hour, which was about his best guess for when 'high noon' was. He wasn't given much of a choice.

The wolves set themselves forward again, and Eddie felt his jaw slack in shock. These things were absolutely relentless!

He shook his head, only to drive after them once more--the thought of the mangled door crossing his mind once more. If it was, in fact, a car, there'd be seats and air conditioning.

He hoped... the mangled door left too much to the imagination, and Icarus clearly didn't know enough about cars to be able to give him much information. Not that Eddie could have asked anyways; what with the pace they were going. He was out of breath and sweating, but these wolves seemed to have only just warmed up.

They pressed on, even as Eddie began to lag behind. Progress became something of attrition--the wolves getting far enough ahead that they would periodically stop, and wait for him to catch up. But as soon as he was within speaking distance, the wolves were off again in the direction of the car.

It happened only twice, before Orion decided he'd had enough, and picked Eddie up, rifle and all to haul him.

Progress was significantly faster, now with the wolves being able to march at their own pacing. Eddie had hoped for something of a respite of a few minutes, but they had been apparently close enough that Eddie's break was unfortunately shortlived.

Orion deposited him at the ground near what Eddie assumed was the Jeep in question... Claw marks and missing pieces made it rather difficult to tell.

His breath catch in his throat as he looked it over--its otherwise pristine condition, marred by a missing door, and claw marks in a few places. Icarus reached in, shooing out one of the Cunts With Wings, before turning to Eddie.

"Elderfolk, is this creation of yours?" Icarus asked, the wolf bowing low. Eddie swallowed, then looked over it.

"I... I think so?" Eddie offered hopefully, taking a few, weary steps forward. The frame looked good at least, and the tell-tale headlights were all there... But the badging on the side said "Rubicon Classic". What the hell did that mean?

"Let's pop the hood, and see what's working--!" Eddie said, trying to sound like he knew what he was doing.

The wolves watched as Eddie climbed into the familiar-ish seat of the vehicle. He tried not to seem too astounded; but the interior of the car wasn't what he thought it'd be. It was like Jeep, if Jeep was designed by Tesla. Entirely too many computers, crammed in the middle of an otherwise 'trying-to-be-minimalist' gauge cluster. It was clearly an automatic transmission, or at least... He thought it was. There was no gear shift, only another computer screen.

Tossing his rifle and backpack into the passenger seat, Eddie made quick work to climb into the machine through the hole that had been created, courtesy of a wolf who didn't know better--to the driver's seat. One of the infinite number of screens chirped at him, and Eddie glanced towards it.

Recalibrate Biometric Signature?

The computer asked. Eddie blinked down at the screen, only vaguely aware of the three wolves that crowded around the open door to stare at him. He cautiously pressed the screen like it was a button, only for the screen to flicker for a moment.

Please Register Palm Print

Eddie swallowed, then glanced to the wolves, who remained stationary as they stared. A horizontal line appeared on the screen, then travelled downwards, as if photocopying Eddie's palmprint.

User Recognized: User 1.

Please Input Preferred Gearbox Settings: Manual | Automatic

Eddie bit his lip, only to press the button that read 'automatic'. The car chirped once more, and a graphic of the Jeep Logo showed up, followed quickly by a little disclaimer "Powered by Tesla". He chuckled softly, then leaned back a bit in the seat as a systems diagnostic's test ran.

The screen flashed once or twice--an overview of the car coming to brilliant life in 3D. It showed the passenger-side, forward door on the screen, then began to flash a passive-aggressive 'ajar' warning. He couldn't help but to bite back another snigger, rolling his eyes as his hands found their way to the steering wheel.

"You know what this is, Elder?" Icarus asked, sticking his head in just enough to sniff at one of the air vents. Eddie debated turning it on, just to see how the wolf would react to a sudden blast of air into his nose, but thought better of it.

"I think I know what it is," he offered, looking back over the dashboard. "And it looks like it's pretty well good to go, save for one of the doors."

"Apologies." Icarus muttered automatically, before pulling his head from the doorway.

"You can find your way back now, Eddie?" Toby asked, glancing about the interior of the Jeep.

No sooner had Toby asked that, then did one of the screens above the dashboard light up. The screen that had taken Eddie's palm print opened a GPS all on its own, and highlighted a route that wound about the mountainside, ending at what Eddie could have only assumed was his destination.

"I th--" He began, before cutting himself short. The ears of his guides all stood up, then they each began to scan the area. Gravity came to each of their features, and they hunched low, as if making ready to spring upon something. "---Whaaat's going on?" Eddie concluded his sentence.

"Elder. Leave, now," Orion hissed in his direction. "We are not alone in this--"

Eddie heard something creak just outside of the driver's window. At first, he didn't see anything--then his gaze carried down toward the ground, nestled just beneath the window frame.

Close enough to touch, there was a creature, huddled against the opposite end of the Jeep from the wolves. The hide on its back was leathery, and scarred--but looked... It wasn't hide, it was a carapace--near as Eddie could tell. He felt his throat close, and his mouth bobbed for just a moment before the creature moved.

It was unlike anything that h... No, it wasn't unlike anything Eddie had ever seen--just a combination of creatures that didn't belong together. It was as if Skynet itself had built Terminators to look like praying mantises--then covered the entire ensemble with crocodile flesh. Whatever it was, it crawled onto its hind feet, and let out a deafening, keening screech down in the direction of the wolves.

"Nocturn!!" Orion shouted. The wolves split--or at least, that's what Eddie thought he saw out of the corner of his eyes. The creature seemed to ignore him, instead focusing on chasing the wolves around. He sat, utterly transfixed, and trying desperately to not piss himself as terror locked his joints in place.

The gaunt, freakish creature was easily twenty feet long from the tip of it's far-too-shallow, sunken face, down to the barbed knob of its meter long tail. Its arms were thick with muscle, and its curled, demonic claws rested near its knees. Its legs were bent the wrong way, and it arched its back before tilting its head back and giving another, hellish howl.

The wolves began to dart about the creature, feinted toward it and snarling, barking in a far more feral stance.

"Go!" Orion ordered to Eddie, turning his head just enough bark the order.

Eddie's breath caught in his throat, and he continued to shake some, before hearing one of the wolves snarl--then yelp loudly. The entire car rocked heavily on its suspension, and somewhere behind him, glas shattered. The sound snapped from his trance, and Eddie shook his head clear. Whatever had happened, it didn't sound good, and the Nocturn was stomping closer toward one of the wolves.

His jaw locked, and a cold, purposeful wave of emotion washed over his mind. Eddie glanced out the window to the Nocturn, which approached the rear quarter panel of the vehicle, staring down at what Eddie prayed wasn't one of the wolves.

Something in his gut knew better.

He reached over to the passenger side, snatching his rifle from the seat. He didn't bother throwing the strap over his shoulder--hell, he didn't figure he had time. Pulling the buttstock of the rifle into place, Eddie leaned forward, grabbing the front of the magazine as he sighted in as best as he could.

Most of the Nocturn was invisible now, owed to its close proximity to the Jeep, and the limited visibility allowed by the windows. All the same, Eddie lined up the shots he had.

He pulled the trigger again, and again, and again, and again.

The rounds tore through the Jeep's window, and glass exploded outwards at the Nocturn. Bullet hole after bullet hole appeared in the Nocturn's gut, but it didn't seem to react, or feel any pain.

Only sparks could be seen--but there were plenty of them.

Eddies ears rang--the sounds of the world drowned out by a high-pitched thrumming as the AR-15 was emptied into the creature. One of the wolves leapt forward to bite at the beast's arms, but it offered no resistance.

Throwing open the driver's side door, Eddie yanked the pistol from his belt, and stepped away from the car only enough to raise the handgun, and re-sight. The three dots lined up rather nicely--and the barrel was pointed directly between the creature's eyes.

Eddie wasn't sure if he'd screamed or not as he unloaded another magazine into the thing--shooting through both of the windows once more. He kept himself trained on the Nocturn's face, and was only vaguely aware that both of the remaining wolves had retreated, and were somewhere behind Eddie.

The dry 'ping' that signified the end of his magazine was an automatic cue to load a fresh one--yanking it from its holster on his belt. He fired another half-dozen rounds from the the second magazine before lowering the pistol, his chest heaving.

Adrenaline dilated his senses, and he moved quickly around the Jeep, only to raise the pistol once more. One of the wolves--Orion, Eddie thought--was laying in a crumpled heap, and bleeding from several nasty gashes... But he was in better shape than the Nocturn.

It's face twitched unnaturally--the metal, robotic infrastructure twitching as it tried to continue to function. Eddie snorted at it, only to shove the pistol into its holster when he was certain that the machine's more precise functions were ruined by the .223, and 9mm rounds.

He knelt next to Orion--cold washing over him once more as he looked over the extent of the wolf's injuries. The creature had grabbed him--or at least tried to, it appeared. Just underneath his pec on his left side, and just off-centered of his chest on the right, there were new, fresh gashes that bleed freely.

Eddie reached forward, his hands pressing into the wolf's ebony fur--drawing out something of a growl from the wolf. "Holy fuck, Orion!" he shouted as he moved. "Hang on!" he cried, looking about for the other wolves, who darted in closer. "I... I need a bandage, or something!" Eddie shouted.

Icarus shied away--it was Toby that sprung into action, and began to dart about, looking for something--anything that he could use. Eddie's own mind raced as he tried to apply pressure more directly to Orion's wounds.

"Shall we take his last rites, Eld--" Icarus began to ask.

"Fuck! That!" Eddie snarled back, casting his gaze to and from.

Orion choked on words, undoubtedly trying to say something nobel, like 'leave me behind', or his last words. Eddie's gaze steeled, and he pressed a bit harder.

His mind raced over everything that he'd learned, and everything that he could do. Failure wasn't an option, near as he could tell--these wolves had brought him into their home without any sort of thanks, or expectations. Eddie wasn't about to let that debt go unpaid.

"What do you wish me to retrieve!?" Toby shouted, darting about the clearing and searching for anything. "There is nothing that I would know to help him!"

Eddie bit his lip, feeling the sickening pulse of blood begin to rush through his fingers as he tried to keep the pressure on Orion's wounds. He needed a bandage--but any sort of clean cloth would...

"Socks!" He immediately shouted, turning his head over to Toby. "Passenger's seat! Grab my backpack!" Eddie barked, turning back to the blood that was steadily crawling up his arms to the cuffs of his sweatshirt. Orion's breath was coming in shorter, shallower droves.

The backpack landed with a hearty thud next to Eddie, and he nodded toward it. "Main compartment! Use the zipper to open it up, and grab the silver roll, and the white cloth!" Eddie ordered.

Toby did as he was asked, and Eddie carefully directed him.

"Now, hand me the sock--" he said, snatching the cloth greedily from Toby, only to press it deep into the wolf's wound. "Then we're gonna use this--!" Eddie said, yanking at the tape. Toby's head tugged back in surprise at the telltale rattle of the tape being yanked free. "Wrap it around his body to pin the sock in place, then get him into the Jeep!"

Icarus stood by, murmuring nervously to himself while he watched Toby and Eddie wrestle the bleeding Orion into the wrenched open door. It took a bit of doing to scoot the seat back, and lean it back far enough for Orion to lay comfortably enough to be buckled in. Even then, they had to scoop away some of the shell casings that had landed in the seat, and melted holes in the upholstery.

"I'll send word as soon as Orion is safe," Eddie said, darting around the front of the car as soon as he was able. He climbed into the driver's seat, and instinctively buckled himself in. The engine flared to life, and Eddie tapped the screen with two knuckles--nearly punching the damn thing to life as he tried to bring the GPS back up. "I promise!" he shouted as the GPS came back up.

You wanted to do something for the Theron, he reminded himself. Here's your shot.

Toby started to say something, but Eddie didn't really listen. As soon as the computer gave him a direction, he slammed on the gas and tore away from the pair of wolves, and the Nocturn's sparking carcass as fast as he could. Copper was beginning to smell heavily in the air, and a glance confirmed the socks were already soaked to capacity with blood.

Eddie glanced down at the GPS, growling some--his eyes darting from the computer screen to the path that he tore down. He knocked branches out of the way, and dodged trees as well as he could; the Jeep seemed at home cutting through the undergrowth as he closed the distance on the path laid out by the computer.

The computer estimated Eddie's arrival to wherever the hell this destination was in thirty minutes.

He swore to himself that he'd make it in twenty.