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Federal Bureau of Mystical Creatures

Chapter 2: 'Meeting the Family'

By: Chris Gilman

The short balding man sits behind a large oak desk as he studies the tall young man with wild hair wearing black fatigue pants and a black shirt before him. His fingertip lightly tap his lips before he finally speaks, his voice strong with a fatherly tone, "Strell, do you know what you've done?"

The tall man nods, "I saved a life. That's what we're supposed to do, isn't it?"

The older man sighs and closes his eyes for a moment before turning his chair to cast his gaze over a wall of pictures. Dragons of many different shapes and hues cover the wall in framed prints with a large prominent painting of a great golden wyrm atop a hoard of books in the center. His eyes roam the pictures as his voice fills the room with its soft tones, "Yes Strell, you did at that. And that is the only reason you are not currently in a silver lined cell in the dungeons."

The large were-lion winces at the bite of the soft words as if he could feel the silver, "I accept any punishment for my actions Director Golhide."

The man turns back to him, a glint of light reflecting off of his pale green eyes, "Strell, you have always been one of our best Lycan Assault Team Commanders, why did you have to do this? You know the rules that lycanthropes have to live under in the modern world. Couldn't the girl have waited until the healers arrived? They were only minutes away."

"Sir, her heart stopped as I bit her. If I had waited even seconds longer, she would not now be among the living and who knows what would have tried to take over her body." He reaches out and places a finger on a picture of the bloody figure carved in Karlie's stomach, "You and I both know what these sigils mean Director, I couldn't risk letting her die. And," he looks down at his booted feet, "it just wouldn't have been right to let an innocent girl die because she stumbled into the shadows."

The Director nods in understanding as he takes the indicated picture, "Yes Strell, and that is why I have directed the council to show leniency to you for your actions. You're on probation which is the lightest penalty they would accept. If you make another thrall while under probation without the explicit permission and direction of the council, you'll probably be executed." He lifts his eyes to look over the top of the picture at the young man, "One of the councilors was arguing you are too dangerous and should be locked up with silver manacles burning into your wrists and ankles as a warning to other lycanthropes to control their urges." He indicates the picture in his hand, "This is what saved you. The representative of the great mages turned pale at the sight of this." He leans forward and turns the picture of the bloody wounds towards him, "Do you really understand what this is, son?"

"A summoning circle for a greater demon," Strell says without hesitation.

The older man sits back with a knowing smirk, "Lad, that's not even the beginning of it. Those lower demons weren't just trying to summon one of their greater kin to this realm." He flips the picture back towards himself and studies it again as he continues, "The half-celestials confirm the great mages opinion." He pauses for a moment as his jaw clenches and a hint of anger enters his voice, "These demons were trying to summon the Devil himself to our world."

Strell's eyes widen and his jaw drops a little while he stares at the Director, "Is she still at risk? I saw the wounds were healed but there's actually a scar that even shows as faint lines in her fur when she shifts. Do you and the council think they can still use her as a conduit?"

The older man twitches his shoulders and grimaces, "I don't know, neither does anyone else on the council. Was she a random snatch off the street, or was she selected? That is the biggest question that is on everyone's lips." He slides another folder towards the were-lion, "Your secret orders, to you and your team, protect her at all costs. That is why the council has assigned her to your group as medic despite her lack of training. LAT-6 is among the most highly trained group of operatives we employ. With you she will learn not only to control her new abilities, but to work as a team. Besides, she is your thrall and you need to teach her everything about her new society."

Strell scoops up the folder and flips it open, nodding as he reads over the documents, "Very well Director, her joining the team we had already planned on. I think the Doctors are planning on releasing her today, I'll take her to the commissary to get some things and move her into our barracks." He holds up the folder, "This, this was not necessary though." He sets the folder back on the desk, "You know we always have the interest of our teammates at heart Director. While we're agreed there are things worth dying for, we have yet to meet those challenges in the field."

The Director takes a pipe from a rack on his desk and fills the bowl with an aromatic tobacco, "I know lad, but the council wanted it on the record." He pulls air into his lungs with a sharp inhale and breaths out a thin trickle of flame that lights the tobacco before he starts puffing on the pipe, "Get her introduced to the team, and then get her trained. Your team is on standby until she is ready for the field." He holds out a small pouch, "This should help with her startup costs."

Strell bounces the bag a few times in his hand to weigh it and hears the distinct jingle of coins, "The council being generous?"

The Director shakes his head, "I have little need for my hoard and the wife complains it's too large again. Don't tell her where it came from, I don't think she's quite ready for that yet."

Strell smirks with a twinkle in his eye, "You mean that the Director of the FBMC is a golden dragon? How is the wife by the way?"

The Director snorts a puff of smoke from his nostrils, "Pregnant again. That's why the wife wants me to clear out a room, we need a nursery."

"Well, they do know what causes that now days," Strell says with half a smile.

The older man snorts again and waves a dismissive hand, "Get going lad, you've got a lot to do to settle that young lady."

* * *

Karlie is sitting on the edge of her hospital bed staring out the window when the man calling himself Strell enters the room. Her eyes narrow as she notices him in the reflection of the glass, "Are you here to take me to my prison finally?"

Strell shakes his head causing his unruly hair to whip around, "No, but I am taking you to your new home."

She focuses her attention outside again, "I can see normal people out there. I want to be with them again, I won't hurt anyone or tell anyone about this."

Strell steps up next to her, "You don't understand, I did this to you. By the tradition of the Lycanthrope community, the policy of the FBMC, and the laws of the United States, I am responsible for you. You need to learn to control the urges that are surging through your body and mind." He closes his eyes and lifts his nose the tinniest bit as he sniffs, "I can tell for instance you are quite angry right now. I suspect the shock is wearing off." He continues to look out the window, his body relaxed and his hands clasped behind his back, "And I know you're thinking about attacking me but I would advise against it."

"Why is that?" she growls deep in her throat.

"Because if you lose control and attack me, we'll both probably end up dead," he says with a soft and resigned tone.

This shocks her back away from the edge of violence, "What?"

Strell nods, "A lycanthrope that is considered a risk is typically killed if at all possible. If not, they are locked up in a cage lined with silver." He rubs at the front of his neck and grimaces, "I almost got fitted for a silver collar and shackles myself for saving your life."

This revelation shocks her further and she stares at him with wide eyes, "I think I understand. If you went around creating more of your kind at random it would be hard to hide your existence from the masses?"

Strell nods and turns to look her over. "Are you ready to leave these bare walls and come see your new home. You'll be staying in our barracks with the rest of the team."

She frowns, "A barracks? I would rather have my own place."

He chuckles, "Oh you will. But you'll also find having other lycanthropes around a comfort, especially as you are new to your abilities." He holds out a hand to her and she hesitates a moment before putting her own hand in his and letting him help her to her feet. "First we'll stop by the mall and get you a few things for your new place."

She lowers her eyes and scuffs her feet as she mutters, "I don't have any money to waste at a mall."

Strell pulls the pouch from his thigh pocket and places it in her hand, "A welcome gift from a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous at this time."

The weight of the bag surprises Karlie and she opens the drawstring opening to peer inside and her jaw drops as she snaps her gaze towards the man in front of her, "Gold?! Are those really gold coins?!"

Strell laughs, "I'm sorry, but you should see the look on your face." He brings his laughter under control but continues to grin, "Yes, those are gold coins. There should be enough there to get a few things for your new place. You'll need new clothing at the very least for when you want to walk around in your hybrid form."

"But... but... I don't know of a mall that will accept gold as a form of payment."

He places a guiding hand on her back, "Come on, I do." He guides her out of the room and into the hallway.

Just outside the door to the hospital room is a young man with a long black ponytail reading a medical chart as he sips a cup of green tea. His eyes are framed by reading glasses and he gives a roguish grin as the two leave the room, "Ah, finally leaving us Karlie? Going to join this mad kitten and his band of warriors?" At a nod from Strell the young doctor continues, "Good, maybe you can keep a few more of them out of my hospital."

Strell gives him a friendly wave as he guides Karlie away from the doctor, "We rarely need the assistance of the facilities here. Our natural regeneration is usually enough to keep up out of here unless someone hits us with silver. Magic and the claws of another lycanthrope can hurt, but silver is our ultimate bane."

"So that bit of the legends is true huh?" she asks while she takes the turns he indicates.

"Yup, but it's one of the few bits. We aren't typically savage beasts who rape, kill, and eat small children. Most of us do suffer from the effects of a full moon forcing us to change until we learn to control the change. But, most of us learn that at a young age, but sadly you'll have to learn the hard way as anyone who comes under the curse when fully grown does. Course, at least you're lucky to not be a solar lycanthrope, or you'd be here for weeks while you learned to control it."

"What's a solar lycanthrope?" she asks with a raised eyebrow.

Strell shrugs, "Exactly what it sounds like, a lycanthrope whose shifting can be controlled by the sun instead of the moon. They tend to be forced to shift at high noon. They learn to control it quickly or they aren't allowed to mingle with the ordinary public."

As they step out of the hospital Karlie blinks at the bright sunlight and looks around her. She is surprised to recognize the area of town, "This is West Chambers Street, I don't remember there being a hospital here." She turns to look at the modern facility behind her rising fifteen stories into the sky above with bright sun gleaming off the windows and the giant red cross on the façade over the main door, "When did they build it?"

"It's a glamour; it hides the presence of the facility from those who don't know it's already there." He waves a hand around him, "To everyone else, it's just another bland office building if they notice it at all. Most of them just walk on by and don't even notice there is a building there." He points out a dark green Jeep parked nearby as he pulls his keys from his pocket with a jingle, "Let's go, the compound we live in is on the outskirts of town and so is the mall and shopping area we'll stop at."

* * *

As they pull up to the series of large and apparently abandoned warehouses Karlie casts a sideways glace at Strell. "This doesn't look much like a mall," she says as he waves to the security guard at the gate leaning back reading a novel.

"Of course it doesn't, we wouldn't want ordinary shoppers to find it now would we?" He asks as his lips turn up in a knowing grin and he pulls a garage door opener off the sun visor. With a click of the remote one of the warehouse doors slides open and they drive down a ramp and into an underground parking garage.

She looks around the bright garage and sees cars of all makes and models, "How many of your kind live here to support this kind of traffic?"

He steps out of the Jeep and leans against the rollbar, "More than I can count, but they're not all lycanthropes. There's fae, mages, celestials, and a lot of others. I bet you didn't even notice the doctor we talked to on our way out of the hospital was a kitsune did you?"

She tilts her head slightly, "What's that?"

"Japanese fox spirits and tricksters traditionally," he explains, "but some of them don't look so Asian anymore, lots of crossbreeding with Americans and such. Besides, they are masters of illusion, so you'll only ever see what they want you to see."

He leads her over to a set of elevators and presses the button, "Now, I know this is your first time at the mall, but try not to be too much of a tourist."

The elevator arrives before she can ask what he means by that and the view that greets her out of the glass back of the elevator takes her breath away. They step in and she presses her hands against the glass to watch the bustle of not just a huge mall, but an open air one with bright blue sky above and parks dotting the landscape of neat shops and restaurants covering more land than the entire warehouse area they had entered. "How," she asks, her voice full of wonder and awe.

"I wish I could say it was simple, but it's not. We're not on Earth anymore."

She pulls her eyes from the view for a moment to glance at him before she returns to the view, "Sure looks like Earth."

"It's more of a pocket dimension set aside for our use as a shopping district," he points out what look like several other elevator cars moving up and down in the distance. "Many more garages connect to this area so that beings from all over the world can come and search for what they need. That's why we tend to use gold as a currency here, easier to use across all boarders and nations."

As the elevator starts to draw near the ground she notices the variety of persons walking along the paths and sidewalks. Some look like ordinary individuals and families out for a day at one of the parks or to do some shopping at the many stores that surround the area. But the ones that most draw her attention are anything but normal. Lycanthropes of many kinds walk in their hybrid forms, and not all are land animals, one is a dolphin hybrid dipping her foot into one of the large fountains. Scattered around the area are cloaked figures wearing hoods that conceal their faces from casual observation. She points to a hooded individual and asks, "Why the hoods?"

Strell nods, "Probably demon-kin. While most demons are hostile to the balance and are selfish some of their half-breeds do choose to forsake the demonic path. They are often disfigured by their demonic kin and tend to hide their faces." He points to a purple skinned individual with two horns poking out of the thick hair on his head, "There's one who chooses to be seen openly."

She looks at him wide eyed, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end, "You allow demons in here?"

"If they are not a threat to the innocent we do not interfere with their lives. Some of them just want to live their lives in peace, who are we to judge?" he replies with a calming purr to his voice.

She settles down and looks out again as she whispers, "There's so many of them, who would have believed it?"

As the elevator stops at the ground level and the glass doors open she hesitates. With a guffaw Strell pats her back and leads her from the elevator car. She turns back to see the elevator car just resting there on a small stone pad, no wall, cables, track, or any other means of movement or guidance visible. "How?" she asks trying to figure it out.

Strell chuckles, "You're going to hear this a lot now, it's magic. Unless you have the talent for it you don't try to understand it." He winks at her, "It gives me a headache trying to understand the most basic mathematics of the arcane arts."

Several paths lead from similar stone pads, some occupied by empty elevators and others with people waiting for an elevator car to arrive. Where the paths meet before entering the shopping district proper is a gray skinned man in a security uniform who holds up a hand and stops the pair, "Any arcane or scientific weapons to turn in?"

Strell reaches into a back pocket and flips out his identification, "FBMC LAT-6, Strell Blackmane, I currently carry no extra weapons upon myself." The guard nods and he flips the wallet closed before he indicates Karlie, "Karlie Rolson, new recruit to FBMC LAT-6. She carries no extra weapons upon her person."

The guard makes notations on an IPad with a stylus rather than his gloved finger, "Species of Ms. Rolson?"

"Lion," Strell answers.

The guard nods, a sound like rocks grinding together coming from him, "Thank you Strell Blackmane, Karlie Rolson, you have been registered in the event of a disturbance you will be alerted." He gestures to the mall, "Please have a nice day."

As they leave the security station Karlie whispers, "What was he? And what was that about we have been registered?"

Strell grins, "Carlos there, he's an earth elemental. They like to work the static security posts where they don't have to move fast. Nice guys, just not quick on their feet with being made of living rock with lava for blood."

She notices he avoided the second question, "And the registering?"

He reaches up to scratch the back of his head, "Ah, that is the cost of being on a Lycanthrope Assault Team, a LAT, if there is a disturbance or invasion of the area by unauthorized outside forces we can be called on to assist the local protectors. The statement that we aren't carrying extra weapons is to let them know we currently aren't carrying any magical or technological weapons on us, but we aren't considered unarmed even then." He holds his hand in front of him and it changes just enough that sharp black claws extend from the ends of his much blunter fingers, "We are a weapon Karlie, remember that."

As he lets his hand return to its normal human state she looks around with nervous, "Has that ever happened? You needing to help defend this place I mean."

Stell nods, "I've been here once before when there was an assault from a gang of demons who stormed one of the entrances. We were the LAT on alert at the time and the teleporters dropped us right into the fray with blessed weapons at the ready. The security teams here with the aid of LAT-3 who was in here having a party at one of the local pubs were able to hold them until we arrived. Casualties were minimal thankfully; after all, most people here are relatively hard to kill."

"How are they going to contact us, I don't exactly have a cell phone on me," she asks.

Strell taps his head with one finger, "Telepathy, the mall has an entire team just to communicate between all its personnel and they can reach out to us in emergencies."

An involuntary shiver runs down Karlie's back at the thought, "Don't think I want someone messing around in my mind right now."

Strell reassures her, "They won't they've got enough to do to bother a lone person with reading their thoughts or such nonsense." He brings them to a stop as they enter the main shopping area, "So , shall we get you some clothes first?"

She gives him a predatory smile, "The way to a girl's heart is with clothes."

* * *

Strell and Karlie are taking a break from their shopping at one of the food courts. She had been pleased to learn they didn't need to tote the purchases around with them. The store attendants had been happy to tell her the mall would have them delivered to Strell's Jeep in the parking garage where they would be awaiting their departure. They share a simple meal of hotdogs and sodas as Karlie watches the people walking by, both human and other.

"It seems so normal," she comments quietly.

Strell shrugs as he gulps down his mouthful, "What did you expect, something out of Harry Potter?"

She blushes a bit, "Actually, a little bit. I mean you use gold, silver, and copper for currency. Magic is as common here as technology and there's a guy over there walking by in what I can only call wizard robes."

Strell glances where she nods her head and his jaw stops moving as he realizes the man is staring at them while trying to appear to read a map. "Karlie, we might have a problem," he says as he reaches into a cargo pocket and brings something up to his ear which he inserts with a casual gesture. "LAT-6, status and location," he says softly.

Several voices answer him on the miniature radio and he grunts, "Rendezvous at the mall parking garage east of the compound. I'll have the new girl with me, so stay alert. I think we got a tail, alert the Director." He focuses on her again, "Karlie, let's get out of here. I think we've got enough things for now. The team will meet us at the parking garage."

She looks over at the man, "What's wrong, he's just some old guy in wizard robes. Can't be that uncommon around here can it?"

He hisses at her, "Kar, use your senses, that's not a human!"

She blinks and looks over at the man again and realizes what had drawn her attention to him. It wasn't the outfit, there were others wearing similar outfits. It also wasn't that she had seen him several times through the last few hours at the mall. It was that she couldn't smell him like she could everyone else around. "What is he?" she asks as they stand.

"A tulpa, a magical sending which means someone powerful has sneaked past the mall's defenses and is tracking us," he explains in a quiet voice as they start to make their way back to the elevator to their garage. As he suspected the man in the robes stops studying the map and folds it up to follow them at a distance.

He indicates the elevators some distance off and speaks loudly, "Hey, I bet I can beat you there."

She looks up at him, "Huh?"

"Let's have a race, you still need to learn how much faster you are even in this limited form," he explains without trying to keep his voice low. A laugh erupts from his throat as he takes off at a good jog, "Try to keep up."

She is only a split second behind him, "Hey, no fair!"

Strell casts a look back to see her and spots the tulpa shoving people out of the way to try and follow them as they let their natural abilities take over. The two weave through the crowds and make a few kids laugh at the sight of two grownups having a race like a couple of kids. The man in robes is soon left behind but Strell keeps egging her on, "Comeon slowpoke, you call this a race, I'm not even breaking a sweat yet!"

She gives a deep growl and tries to catch him, not even realizing the changes that take place as her body changes. The muscles of her legs bulge and sprout tan hairs as a nubbin of a tail start to sprout from her rear and push down the waistband of her pants. Her ears slowly shift up her skull to the top of her head as her entire body grows, bulking with muscles, and splitting the seams of her mundane clothing with loud rips and pops of buttons.

She stumbles for a moment as her feet grow and elongate to erupt from the shoes that confined them. Her feet are now free to let their claws dig into the ground for natural purchase as she runs on her toes and pumps her far more muscular arms. She pulls air in through her nose which is now on the end of a squat leonine muzzle. With the transformation finished she pours on the speed and easily catches the slower male.

Strell notices the change and grins, "Ah, you do want to make this a real challenge then!" His change is faster, his years of experience and the FBMC issue clothing assisting until the muscled lion hybrid is easily keeping pace with the powerfully built female.

The pair of them are grinning in enjoyment until a scream is torn from a woman behind them and a voice echoes in Strell's head, 'Blackmane, what is the nature of the emergency in your area? We've gotten reports of two were-lions transforming and being chased by an unknown entity.'

Strell speaks out-loud as he takes a quick glance back, "Being pursued by a tulpa. Tulpa has dropped human disguise and is in pursuit. We're trying to lead it out of the mall and away from innocents. LAT-6 is going to rendezvous in the parking garage."

The voice in his head hesitates, 'You won't make it Blackmane. Advise you and your companion turn and face the tulpa. Your team will be advised to enter the mall for assistance.'

Strell looks at the scattering shoppers, "Negative, I don't want to fight it here, too many innocents still in the area and we both know tulpas are almost unstoppable. Even I don't stand a chance on my own."

'Blackmane, our records show you entered the mall with a fellow member of your LAT, the two of you should be able to hold...' The voice fades for a moment before coming back, "Ah, I see. Records just updated, your companion is a rookie with no training only instinct to go on.'

"Correct, I believe she is the target." This comment elicits a surprised glance from the were-lioness running beside him as she snatches a glace backwards to see the tulpa closing.

"Strell, we're not going to make it to the elevators." She indicates a large park, "Let's go in there and try to stall for time, I don't smell anyone still in the park. That should give us some extra room to fight."

Strell shakes his head, "You're not trained yet!"

She gives him a sidelong glance, "Strell, we're not going to make it to the garage."

Strell grunts, "Central, I will delay the tulpa, get the security force to cordon off the area and prepare a containment vessel in case I can hold it off long enough. Get the girl out of here!"

'Strell Blackmane, the female should assist you in...' the voice in his head tries to protest only to be cut off by his ear splitting roar.

Karlie tries to add her protests but Strell's roar stops her, "Damnit, I don't have time to explain! The girl is leaving the area now, that's an order under FBMC code 666!"

There is a gasp that echoes inside his head, 'Confirmed Blackmane, security is ready to contain the area and only allow the girl out and LAT's in until the threat is neutralized.'

Karlie roars back at him as she notices a line of figures raising their arms in front of them and the fur all over her body standing on end as if from a static charge, "I am not leaving you here! I can help!"

Strell swipes a hand, claws extended, at her rump. "YYEEOOOOOW," she yelps as the claws bite into the tender flesh of her right ass cheek. The pain makes her pour on an extra burst of speed to get ahead of the male and she passes through a bubble that grows between her and the figures ringing the area. She looks back to snarl at the male who smacked her and digs her claws into the ground leaving deep scrapes as she skids to a halt.

"Strell!" she roars at the top of her lungs as she realizes the team leader didn't follow her through the bubble. She throws herself at the bubble but two of the earth elementals in security guard outfits grip her arms and hold her fast despite her struggles.

The one who had registered them when they entered, Carlos, speaks softly as his rough grip and heavy weight keeps her stationary, "He is on his own Ms. Rolson until the rest of his team arrives."

There is a woosh of displaced air and Karlie turns to snarl at an elderly balding man puffing idly on a pipe, "Ms. Karlie Rolson I presume?"

The casual expression and calm demeanor among all the chaos of the last few minutes makes her pause for a moment, "Who are you and where did you come from?"

He gives her a grandfatherly smile as he points the stem of his pipe at her, "I am Director Golhide of the FBMC, so I guess that makes me your boss. And I can always be where I am needed."

"What is FBMC code 666?" she snarls despite the calming presence of the man working to sooth her anger. While she no longer struggles against the stone hands holding her, she isn't ready to give up on helping Strell if he really is in a life or death fight.

He puffs on his pipe and frowns as he waves the earth elementals to let her go, "My dear girl, you are not cleared to know that yet. But if Strell has giving that code, it's serious." He looks past her at the bubble that now seals away a stadium sized area of the mall, "Ah Strell, what have you gotten into now?"

* * *

Strell stops skids to a stop as he watches Karlie pass through the bubble and it turns an opaque white. He extends a hand to gently touch the bubble, "You're safe now."

An ear splitting screech from behind makes him slowly turn to see the figure of darkness in the vauge shape of a man, "Now for you."

An evil laugh echoes in the deserted bubble of the mall, "You think you can defeat me lion man?"

Strell grins like a man who knows something his opponent doesn't, "I don't have to now. Backup is coming."

The figure grows obscenely long claws and points one at him, "Too late to save their fearless leader though. And when they drop the bubble to let your fellows in I will be free to escape."

Strell hunches his shoulders and snarls, his tail lashing like a whip behind him, "I am no kitten to be scared by a nightmare." With a roar he launches himself at the creature of darkness who is surprised enough to not dodge the swipe of claws that rips through his form. Strell lands in a four limbed crouch as he prepares for another attack.

The figure's voice echoes in the bubble again, "Foolish cub."

As the were-lion launches himself for another attack, the mental construct performs a counterstrike of his own and his black talons rake through Strell's side. The unnatural claws tear through his hide, muscle, and bone as they pass through and rip a chunk from him.

"AAAIEEEEEEE!" Strell cries as he feels the claws rip out a handful of his side, even a piece of his lower rib is ripped from him as he tumbles on the pavement leaving a bloody trail. He holds a hand to his wound as red blood pours from the opening with each beat of his heart. His eyes glare at the figure from nightmares as he huffs, "It'll take more than that to kill me."

The figure grins at him as it licks the were-lion's blood from its claws, "I'm glad to hear it, I don't want this to be over so quick. I like it when..." it pauses as it licks more of the blood from a claw and its dark eyes go wide. "It can't be?!"

* * *

Karlie stands beside the Director, her arms crossed over her enlarged chest as they hear the sounds of battle and the roaring cries of pain from inside the bubble. While it doesn't let them see what's happening, it doesn't stop them from hearing the struggle going on. She growls deep in her chest and her tail flicks in agitation.

"Calm yourself child, he is still alive," the Director says standing next to her. "I am quite surprised to find you so concerned about his well-being. I understand you were quite upset at him over the current situation you find yourself in," he indicates the fact she is still in her hybrid form, the shreds of her mundane clothes still hanging off of her but give her little in the way of modesty. "Have you decided it's not all bad after all?"

She lowers her eyes and scuffs the ground with a clawed foot, "Yes, I have come to realize that he didn't want to turn me into this," she rubs an open palm over her furry stomach, the thin lines of the healed marked cut into her skin only days before, "but he also didn't want me to die because I had fallen into this world of yours." Letting a sigh past her lips she looks back at the bubble, "He seems like such a good man. I wish he would have let me help fight that thing."

The Director puffs on his pipe quietly while he listens to her. When she stops he nods in agreement, "I know you feel an urge to stay near him, but you need to ask yourself if that is what you really want, or is it an effect of your new status."

"Status?" she asks, one eyebrow quirked upward.

The older man nods, "Yes child, you are his thrall after all. It's not uncommon for new thralls to never leave the side of the one who created them. But, that is as well. It gives you time to learn what you need to from the senior lycanthrope before you are turned loose on the world."

Her lip curls in a snarl, sharp teeth exposed to the world, "Are you trying to say I am something owned by him?"

The older man gives her a look of surprise, "Not in the least my child. And I would be most surprised if he tried to do such a thing."

Karlie's golden eyes glance at the smaller man for just a moment before they focus once more on the bubble wall, "Where is that help you said was coming?"

The Director puffs on his pipe and smiles without looking away from the bubble, "They're coming right now in fact."

* * *

Strell picks himself off the ground where he had landed after the tulpa had thrown him into one of the storefronts. "Why don't you just resign yourself, my team will be here within minutes and you'll be dispersed shortly after."

The creature stands tall as the clawed gashes down its arms and legs seams themselves as good as new in seconds, "You know why, son Lionheart. The girl is the chosen vessel for my master's lord. He will have her even if you and your pathetic little band of animals do manage to stop me here."

The tulpa shoots two digits towards Strell, the dark apendages lengthening as the thin to needles. Strell tries to dodge them, but the beating he's taken has weakened him and slowed his reaction far from his normal peak. The needle claws pierce his shoulder and pin him against the wall. "RRRAAAAGGHHH!" he roars as the needles burn his flesh with their dark magic.

"Foolish little kitten," taunts the tulpa. "Even if your friends are able to save the girl today, they will lose their fearless and stupid leader."

Strell reaches up to grip the claws in his muscled hands, "Don't count me out just yet." With a wrench of his wrists the claws snap like glass and the beast howls an otherworldly howl of pain and anguish.

* * *

A howl that couldn't have come from the throat of any early being echoes through the air as Karlie turns to see the group approaching. Seven black armored men and women trot from the elevators and stop near Director Golhide and Karlie where they stand watching the opaque bubble in front of them. A short man wearing a red beret snaps a brief salute, "Situation, sir?" he asks with a crisp English accent.

The older man returns a very sloppy and casual salute as he speaks around the stem of his pipe, "Any contact with Strell in the last ten minutes?"

The man shakes his head, "No sir, we lost his signal just before that bubble went up." He checks his watch, "We haven't had any contact with him for eighteen minutes."

The older man looks over the team and does a double take as he counts again, "Blask, where is Yinge?"

The man grins foolishly and holds out a pair of binoculars to the older man, "Setting up that toy of hers. She figured she better be ready to support when you let us in that bubble and she insists she needs at least 200 yards to be as accurate as possible."

The Director takes the binoculars and looks where the man points. He easily finds the black armored figure as it grows considerably in height and bulk before lying down to pull a massive gun into her shoulder. "She knows what we're facing?"

Blask nods, "Aye, she's got spirit breaker rounds at the ready in that popgun of hers and a magazine of blessed rounds standing by just in case this turns out to be something from the pit after all. The rest of the team is using a mixture of blessed and spirit breaker rounds. No silver since we have a friendly in there. Last thing we want to do is hit Strell by accident with something lethal."

The Director nods in agreement and hands back the binoculars as Karlie steps up to the two men still in her hybrid form, "What can I do?"

The short Blask looks her up and down, making note of the shredded clothing and lack of any tactical equipment, "Like that lass? Nothing, you're far safer out here with the Director."

She opens her mouth to protest as another roar of pain is heard but this time it comes to a gurgle as it fades. "STRELL!!!" Karlie screams as she hurls herself at the bubble only to bounce off of it again. She spends several seconds clawing at the barrier keeping her out. Her claws, which can gouge rock, have no effect on the bubble. She finally stops and comes back to the group of armed and armored individuals with a golden fire in her eyes, "What are you waiting for?! Help him!" she shouts as her hand points towards the bubble wall.

Blask grins as his face elongates into a muzzle, his ears enlarge and move up on his head, and tan fur starts to cover every square inch of exposed skin, "We are lass."

Karlie watches as the seven people in front of her turn into various hybrid animals. In moments she is confronted by hybrid wolves, cats, foxes, and a white rat all still wearing the black tactical clothing and armor that appears to have changed magically with them. There is the metallic clinking of rounds being chambered in weapons and a swish as a female black fox pulls a katana from the scabbard on her back.

The Director confronts the male fennec still wearing the red beret, "Blask, as far as Karlie is concerned I suggest you take her. I think Strell is going to need a medic from the sounds we've been hearing." There is a heavy thud as if a bag of potatoes had hit the ground from a high altitude. The Director pulls out a small pouch and reaches his entire arm in to pull out a large first-aid satchel that could not have been in such a small container and tosses it to the were-lioness. "Sorry, I wasn't able to get you any armor on such short notice." He looks her nearly nude female form up and down, "I recommend you stay behind the others. Your regeneration is still strong, but against the tulpa it will not be enough."

She flips open the satchel and takes out one of the headsets the others are all wearing. She slips it into her ear, "How did you..."

He smiles, "You don't have time to learn the truths of magic just yet child." He waves a hand to one of the mages who've been maintaining the bubble, "It's time to take care of the dark force in there before it can get loose. Prepare to lower the shield!"

Blask nods and lifts the shotgun as he speaks into his headset, "Yinge, bubble coming down in twenty seconds. If you have a shot, take it."

A soft feminine voice responds, "Ready."

The fennec gives Karlie a casual glance before nodding towards the male and female timber wolves, "If you're going to go in with us, stay behind the twins." The two give her a nod and she steps behind them. "Kytra, Yukeri, you two keep the new girl safe and get her to the boss, I don't like the sounds of this. It's gotten too quiet." He lifts his shotgun to the ready position and the rest of the armed lycanthropes follow suit forming up in a line. "Yinge," he says to the team's sniper, "ready in three, two, one!"

* * *

At "one" Yinge watches the bubble drop and the eight members of LAT-6 on foot move into the area. She scans the area that was covered by the bubble but sees no sign of either the tulpa or Strell. "Blask, I got nothing. What do you see?"

"We're advancing, keep your eyes open," the reply comes.

She spots a flash of red and shifts to focus on it, and what she sees does not bode well, "Blask, I have it... and Strell. Forty yards to the northwest of your current location," she reports as she dials the scope for better magnification.

She almost wishes she hadn't as the image grows clear in her scope. The leader of LAT-6 is hanging in the thing's grip, black hands around his neck as blood pours from deep wounds that cover his body. The muscles on his arms are bulging as he tries to break the grip of the thing holding him, but she can see his struggles weakening as his air supply is cut off.

"Do you have a shot?" asks the Director.

"No, sir," she replies. "At this range, the thing could put Strell's head in the path of the bullet before it could hit. Lycanthrope or no, he wouldn't survive a 20mm round through his head."

The thing notices the team closing on it and its mouth grins, showing far too many teeth. With a casual gesture it holds Strell up in front of it with a teasing gesture, but hesitates as Karlie comes into its view behind the team.

"Director, something's wrong," Yinge reports as she sees the tulpa toss Strell's now limp form aside and it charges the group with speed even Tiret, the team's were-cheetah scout, couldn't have matched. The team reacts with guns and blades but they are having little effect. She sees the magic users casting their spells and can hear the yelled commands on the radio. But, no matter what they do, the tulpa seems to remain in control of the situation and it seems to be focused on the rookie were-lion.

"Yinge," the Director says, his calm voice cutting through the noise, "Take the shot."

"Sir," she says and takes in the last fraction of an inch on the trigger. The massive rifle kicks like a freight train against her shoulder as the hammer falls. She watches three inches of flame erupt from the muzzle-break as the projectile proceeds down range with a blaze of magical energies.

* * *

The entire team opens fire on the thing as it tosses Strell aside to land in a pile of blood soaked fur on the pavement. The dark apparition dodges the bullets as easily as if it was just out for a stroll through falling cherry blossoms. The black fox tosses her pistol aside and rushes forward, katana in hand, to intercept a clawed hand that tries to remove Blask's short head.

"Timi! I could use some help!" the vixen screams as she is slowly forced back by the unnatural strength of the tulpa.

The female white rat starts to chant in a voice that grows deeper with each syllable and echoes in the air as she takes a tight grip on her rune covered staff. As the power of her working grows the runes grow brighter and pulsate to her words. "Lyrn, incoming!" she screams while slamming her staff into the ground, the end sinking six inches into the solid concrete. Lines of green, blue, and red energy course down the rune covered staff and shoot along the ground towards the black vixen.

"Payback is a bitch, and so am I!" Lyrn shouts at the tupla as the bands of energy race up her legs, through her arms and into the blade. Runes appear along the shimmering blade and she forces the tulpa to retreat a few steps to dodge her blade.

The team hears the Director's voice calm as always on their radios, "Yinge, take the shot."

Yinge's voice is like the fall of a rose petal on a still pond, "Sir."

The air cracks with the thunder of a sonic boom as a 20mm spirit breaker round bores itself a tunnel through the air. The round crackles with blue energy in its wake as it strikes the tulpa and explodes with a mystical energy that surrounds the spiritual construct.

The tulpa begins to glow with a florescent blue light as it screams, "NOOO!!!" As the blue light chips away at the edges of the tulpa it tries once more to get past the line of black armored lycanthropes. "You belong to us!" it screams as it reaches out towards Karlie behind the rest of the team.

Lyrn slashes with her rune enhanced blade and takes off the thing's hand at the wrist and the others open up, driving the thought creation backwards with a hail of spirit breaker rounds that help the energies from the massive sniper round chip away at the magics that continue to hold it together.

Blask calls out while reloading a pistol, his shotgun hanging empty from a tactical sling, "Karlie, check on Strell. Kytra, cover her." Raising his pistol he empties the entire magazine into the thing's head, "Yinge, send another round please. Let's finish this thing off."

Karlie runs over to the limp form of Strell where the creature tossed him in a pile of blood and fur. The tulpa tries to follow her but the team work together to keep themselves between her and the weakening creature as the magic of the spirit breaker rounds degrade the energy that keeps the creature of thought together. She doesn't even notice the boom of the second round passing or the scream of the tulpa as the last of its energy is dispersed by the magic of the spirit breaker rounds.

She flips open the satchel and checks Strell. She immediately searches his neck for a pulse but the thick fur makes it hard to locate. For a moment she is frantic but she finally finds it. "It's so weak," she mutters to herself as she digs through the satchel trying to find what she needs. Unable to find what she seeks her ears flatten to his skull and claws extend from her fingers. "Grrrraaa," she growls as she rips the cloth satchel open and spills the contents on the ground. She tears open packets of coagulant and shakes the substance into the wounds that cover his body. The worst of the wounds are not mere scratches, but deep wounds that ripped out great globs of muscle and tissue. Broken ribs can be seen in his torso and a small piece of her mind wonders, 'How is he still alive?' She presses large gauze pads against the worst of the wounds and is pleased to find they adhere to his fur without the need for tape.

Taking a bladder from the pile of supplies she sets it next to Strell as she shaves a patch of fur from his arm. With practiced ease she finds the vein and inserts the IV needle. She holds up the IV bag and Kytra steps close to take it as he continues to cover her with his assault rifle. Searching through the supplies again she pulls out a prefilled needle and uncaps it with her teeth. Spitting the cap out, she inserts the needle into the IV and depresses the plunger. In seconds Strell's breathing is easier and the grimace on his muzzles relaxes into a much more peaceful, if blood covered, visage.

She checks his pulse again and is surprised to find his blue eyes looking back at her through slitted lids open only the merest fraction of an inch. He makes no sound despite what are clearly painful wounds. She gives him a weak smile and reassures him, "You'll be ok." He lifts a weak hand to her cheek and leaves a smear of his red blood on the tan of her fur.

He is too weak to do more that lift the very corners of his mouth as his blue eyes look into her golden ones. He musters enough energy to croak out, "Kar... you're... naked..."

She gives him a smile as a tear drips from her eye, "If you weren't so hurt I'd punch you for that."

They don't even notice as the rest of the team gathers around the two were-lions and look on with smiles on their faces. Blask pulls out a cigar and lights it, "Karlie, welcome to the family."

---

All characters unless otherwise stated are the property of Christopher Gilman. Story © Copyright Christopher Gilman 2013 all rights reserved mail me and tell me what you think at [email protected]