FSE

Furry search engine

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"Yes?" Tabbatha said as she answered the phone. Jenny just clutched hers in shaking hands.

"Tabbatha... Put Marko on." Roslyn said as she stood outside the room Alice was laying in at the hospital. While back at the pits Stacy and the others tried to contain an angry, nine hundred pound metal dragon. Ron was still trying to get a hold of Jenny as he sat by Alice's side.

Tabbatha held out the phone to Marko. "Roslyn insists."

Marko looked at Jenny as he took the phone. "What is going on?"

Roslyn rubbed the upper part of her short snout. "On the last lap, Alice was involved in a wreck... You can't even tell what kind of car she was driving it is so destroyed. She is unconscious and has sustained several fractures in her left foot and leg. They are waiting on test results to see if there are any further injuries."

Marko took a slow breath in. "Tell Ron, Jenny is with me right now. Is there anything else?"

"After they reviewed the recordings..." Roslyn paused to wipe her nose on her shirt sleeve. "God damn it... that fucking bastard... he hit her on purpose... Just fucking plowed into her car at damn near two hundred miles an hour... fucking bastard..." With that Roslyn just slowly sank to the floor crying.

"It will be okay Roslyn." Marko said and handed the phone back to Tabbatha.

"Sir?" Tabbatha asked.

"Jenny, I don't know how to make this easy... On the last lap, Alice was involved in a wreck. She is in the hospital with several fractures in her left leg. They do not know if she has further injuries... Meeting adjourned." Marko said and sat in his chair with a heavy heart.

Jim and Kathrin took Jenny to her apartment and tried to calm her down. This was not the first time Alice had been in a racing accident and injured. It also was not the first time someone ran her off a track, or street either. This was just the first time she didn't pull out of it or at least save the car.

Ron came out of Alice's room and found Roslyn still sitting on the floor crying. He leaned down and put an arm around the older woman. "Alice will be fine. I am glad she has so many people who care so much about her."

"How can you be so calm?" Roslyn asked as he helped her stand up.

"It's racing, unfortunately it is the ugly side of it. Believe me, I am pretty mad at that guy for what he did, but he will be penalized, heavily for it." Ron said.

They both paused as Roslyn's phone rang. It was Marko. "Hey boss." Roslyn said.

"Let Ron know a patient transport plane is coming down to pick Alice up and transfer her to our facilities in Berlin. There is a seat on it for him, but you are to round up everyone else and bring them back here. Especially Nodrog." Marko said.

"Okay, I can do that... I think. He may not listen to me." Roslyn said.

Marko chuckled. "Everyone listens to you Roslyn."

"What's going on?" Ron asked as Roslyn put her phone away.

"Alice is going to be transferred to our facilities up in Berlin. There is a seat reserved for you on the plane. I need to round everyone up and get them on our plane and take them home." Roslyn said.

Ron glanced into the room where Alice lay sleeping under sedation. "Will Nodrog agree to that?"

Roslyn looked into the girl's room. "I don't know, he might just to take care of Jenny."

Ron smiled. "You might want to point that out to him."

"I will be sure too. Shall we head back so you can get your things?" Roslyn asked.

Ron glanced back into the room. "Yeah."

The two were relieved to see there was no further structural damage around the pit area. Plus there was no large areas of blood either. They were a little concerned to find everyone but Nodrog in the trailer.

"How is she doing?" DJ asked as the two stepped inside.

"She is stable and they have her sedated. Her left leg is in bad shape." Ron said.

"Where did Nodrog go?" Roslyn asked.

"He teleported back home already. To check on Jenny." Wes said. He had calmed down for the most part. More so from helping keep the dragon from going berserk in the pit area. He actually believed the stories Alice and the twins have told him.

"I think that was the second most terrifying thing I have ever been through in my life." Stacy said as she sat clutching a throw pillow tightly. She had felt the same fear as she had the day Nodrog lost his temper in the gun fight over the books.

"Are we sure he went back to the states?" Ron asked.

They all sat looking blankly at Ron. Since they didn't know, Ron tried calling Jenny.

"You should answer that." Nodrog said as the two sat on the couch. Jenny on his lap.

"Yeah." Jenny pulled out her phone and flipped it open. "Hi dad."

"How are you holding up kiddo?" Ron asked.

"Better than I was earlier... Nodrog is here at the apartment with me. He said Alice will be fine." Jenny said.

"Of course she will. They are taking her up to the company facilities in Berlin. I will be going with her." Ron said.

Jenny smiled. "I know. The boss came down and told me he was having her transferred."

"Oh okay. Alice will be better before you know it." Ron said.

Jenny looked up as Lilith stepped out of a shadow into her apartment. "Oh, trust me I know. Take care."

Ron looked at his phone after they hung up. "That was odd."

"What was odd?" Roslyn asked.

Ron shrugged. "Just something she said."

Ron gathered his things from the truck before heading to the hotel and then returning to the hospital. The others loaded up tools and the mangled car into the truck to make the return trip home. They took the wrecked Viper for a couple reasons. One they could salvage some things from it and two; they didn't want anyone else getting their hands on certain parts, like the computer. After all, Alice did not have the budget some of the other teams had.

It was a quiet and somber trip back. Stacy had a hard time staying focused on her training, but still did what she had too. It was part of the job, flying a plane with less people than you had brought. Roslyn had done it several times and it never got easier.

It was also quiet at Joe's shop when they pulled the car out of the trailer. The second car was ready to go. Because it was prepped for the race in Germany and for the off world race in two months. The question on everyone's mind was if Alice would be able to drive it.

Ron chatted a little with the nurses on the transfer plane. They got her into a new room and hooked back up to the monitors, oxygen and IV. Her leg was in a padded metal brace that went from mid thigh down to and included her foot. Surgery was scheduled after they did a few more scans to check for internal injury and head trauma.

Thankfully the rest of the tests came back fine. Only Alice's left leg and foot was injured. No head trauma or internal organ injury. Alice's safety equipment all worked like it was supposed to, which was why despite the speed and magnitude of the wreck she had so few injuries. The roll cage kept her protected and the other parts came apart or collapsed to absorb the shocks.

Alice stood looking out at the falling rain from her room in the hospital. The floor of her room at least warm to her bare feet. She was still a little groggy from the sedatives in her system. Nodrog had brought Lilith to her room late at night and the cute elf fixed her foot and leg. She had removed the brace herself. Alice was incredibly upset about the wreck, which Nodrog had told her had been deliberate. Though she somehow figured it had been before he told her.

"What, what are you doing out of bed?" Ron and the nurse exclaimed as they walked into the hospital room. There was no way she could be standing without being in incredible pain.

Alice turned to look at them. "Because I am perfectly fine."

Despite her protests otherwise, Ron and the hospital staff forced her back into bed and to endure several X-rays. She was glad to put clothes back on after they took out the IV and the catheter. After walking for several minutes they checked her out and cleared her to return to work.

Roslyn and Cindy came out in Marko's private jet to pick them up and bring them back home. While still shocked at her unnatural recovery, everyone was glad to see Alice. Jenny of course being the most excited to see Alice up and moving around. Though Jenny did a very detailed and thorough examination of Alice as the two took a shower together late in the evening. Which continued after they had gotten into bed.

Jenny was a little surprised to find Alice had already left the apartment early the next morning. She couldn't do much about it as she heard Harley crying in her bedroom. "I hope everything is okay." Jenny said as she picked her daughter up.

Alice was standing up on the roof with Nodrog, a cup of coffee in her hands. "Now do you know why they stopped you?"

Nodrog smiled. "I do."

"Don't get me wrong, I am still upset about what happened. But he did take himself out and potentially ruined his career." Alice was mad, but that guy was also still in the hospital.

"I have heard they are talking about a very expensive fine and possible suspension from next season." Nodrog said.

Alice sighed. "I guess I am a fool for thinking no one hated me. Sure when I was street racing people would get a little rough, but sometimes more than just your reputation was on the line."

"So what is really on your mind?" Nodrog asked.

Alice looked out to the east. "It was beyond my control, there was nothing I could change... but the fact is that spectator was killed by a piece of my car."

"I had figured it might be that. You had no way to know what the other driver was going to do." Nodrog paused and looked at Alice. "There are rumors you might call it quits."

Alice looked down into her coffee. "I have heard them too... And truthfully the thought has crossed my mind. If not for you and Lilith I would not be able to race in the off world race..."

"It is a rather small thanks for all you have done for me. So what are you going to do?" Nodrog asked.

"I don't know..." Alice said.

"Well don't keep Jenny worrying about you." Nodrog said and gave her a kiss. "I need to be going."

"How is our resident lead footed vixen doing?" Sherman asked as Nodrog met him to check on some things.

"A little down, but doing well considering." Nodrog said.

"I would sort of expect that. You know, they almost called me to go and get you." Sherman said as they walked into the partly constructed living quarters being built near the pilot housing.

Nodrog frowned. "I apologize for not handling it better."

"You didn't know any better. Most sports have incidents like that. People want to win, some at any cost. Intentional injury is not really new in sports, they try and police things to keep it from happening." Sherman said and waved to Kitty and Catlin as they walked over.

"I suppose so. At least I could do one thing to help." Nodrog said. It was strange to see Marko's body guards without the person they were supposed to be protecting.

"Aren't you missing someone?" Sherman asked.

"He had a last minute phone conference, we don't need to guard him in his office." Kitty said.

"Plus he gave us a list of things to ask the two of you before we report back." Catlin said and pulled out an actual list. "And Dmitri is here."

"Yes I am present." Dmitri said slightly annoyed by her comment.

Sherman handed everyone but Nodrog a hard hat. "Shall we get started?"

They toured the new housing while it was still months from completion. Checking security features and other things they needed to have in place. Most races had agreed on a voltage and electrical plug for travel. It would be too difficult to refit every building to a single voltage. This building would have both earth and outer space electrical outlets in the rooms. Plumbing was not as difficult, since sinks and showers just varied by size. It was the toilets that needed the most, modification.

The building used a twelve foot ceiling instead of an eight or ten. The Amazons and Minotaur were not the only tall race. The structure was also reinforced to handle the heavier build of some species. While Nodrog might be the only metal creature, stone was rather common in elementals. The units also had to have above average insulation and HVAC systems. While the Amazons and Salaks came from warm worlds, some were considerably colder.

October passed quickly as did most of November. It was the third weekend of the month and Alice had something to be at. It was an awards ceremony for race car drivers from all categories. Most everyone who Alice knew was in attendance. Only Roslyn and Stacy stayed at home, mainly to watch Harley so Jenny could come.

The crowd murmured as Alice walked up on stage and to the microphone. Without any sign of the injuries they heard she had gotten. In Alice's hand was a plain envelope. She was nervous as she adjusted the microphone to her level.

"As I am sure most of you noticed, I am walking and not in a wheel chair as some rumors lead you to believe." Alice said with calm grace.

"I also know about the rumors of me giving up and quitting. To make things clear, I am quitting." Alice said and as the crowd reacted she held the envelope up so everyone could see it.

"You heard right, I am quitting, Evo Inc. In this envelope is my letter of resignation. At the end of December I will no longer be an employee at Evo Inc. The reason for my resignation from Evo is so I can prepare and compete in next year's championship." Alice said with an almost cruel smile.

The crowd was in an up roar at this point. No one had thought Alice would quit her job to race full time. Flashbulbs were going of like strobe lights as the present media fought for the best picture of Alice. There were cheers of excitement and cries of doubt.

"I have spent my racing hobby ignoring those who have doubted me. Those who said I couldn't handle a full season. Well next year you will get your wish, because I will be on the starting grid of every event." Alice said with a firm and loud tone of voice.

With that Alice turned and headed off stage leaving the racing world in shock. It was front page news, the biggest story of the night. It was also in part, a lie. Because while Alice was resigning from her current position at the company. Alice was still on their payroll, Marko was going to sponsor her season, one hundred percent. The two of them had a lengthy talk about it one evening down in the lounge.

Several nights ago.

"I am a little surprised you wanted to meet me for dinner, Alice." Marko said as he pushed her chair in after she sat down.

Alice blushed as he sat down across from her. "I want to talk to you about something, and dinner is about the only free time you have."

Marko chuckled. "Unfortunate part of the position. What do you want to talk about?"

"I have spent a lot of time thinking since the wreck." Alice said and thanked the waiter for bringing her a drink.

"I hope you have not given up on racing." Marko said and watched Alice carefully.

Alice only smiled. "No. I am not giving up on it. Actually I want the opposite."

Now it was Marko's turn to smile. "You want to commit to a full race season."

"Exactly. I am tired of the doubt and things people say." Alice said. The two of them both ordered before resuming their conversation.

Marko spread his hands. "What can I do for you then?"

"I want to know if you will hold my position open for me. I know I am asking a lot, but I would have to quit my job here to race full time." Alice said and hoped he would understand.

"I see." Marko said and rubbed his chin. "I would certainly hate to lose such an outstanding employee."

Alice was unsure what to make of his comment. "I wouldn't ask under normal conditions. You and Jade have been more than accommodating to supporting my hobby."

"That is because you always go above and beyond our expectations. However I see a flaw in your plan." Marko said.

"Oh, what's that?" Alice asked nervously.

"You don't have the money to support yourself a full season." Marko said and they thanked the waiter for bringing their dinner. "I however, have plenty of capital to support such an endeavor."

Alice blushed. "No, I can't ask you for that. I would have no way to repay you."

Marko chuckled. "You don't have to ask me, and you do not have to repay me. I am thinking of something you might not have considered."

"What is that?" Alice asked.

"That you simply switch to a different position in the company." Marko said and smiled. "Grandfather October had a hobby looking for lost treasure. Why can't I have a hobby racing cars myself?"

Alice sat in complete shock. Never in her imagination would she have thought about that possibility. A sly smile slowly spread across her lips. "I think we could work something out along those lines."

"I am sure we can." Marko said and raised his wine glass.

Nodrog accompanied Alice, Jenny and Harley as they walked from the bus stop to Joe's shop. They were meeting Joe and Katie for a rather special delivery. It was a chilly Sunday and aside from Nodrog, they were happy to be inside after Katie let them in.

"The driver just called to double check directions. So he should be hear shortly." Joe said as his daughter and Harley played together on the floor.

They talked excitedly and the twins with little Joe came down from their apartments as a semi truck pulled up in the lot. It was an unmarked enclosed car hauler. The driver got out and met them at the back of the trailer. "All I need is a signature."

Big Joe accepted the clip board and signed his name before passing it to Alice to sign hers.

"What did the two of you just sign for?" Jenny asked while the guy lowered the rear door and ramp.

"A pair of cars and a pair of crates." The driver said and flipped on the trailer lights.

Staring them in the face was the front end of a Viper. An unpainted stripped down and track prepped race car. The second one sitting behind the first. These cars had no engine and they had zero miles on them. They were rolling stock, so they had no drive line at all in them. The pair of race cars were sent to the shop from the SRT group, right after they had been assembled.

Alice glanced at the paper work. They had been ordered by a Marko October to be delivered to the shop. "He really meant every word he said."

"At least we have a car for you to use next month. Even going full tilt, it will take a while before we get these running and painted." Big Joe said as the driver and Nodrog rolled the cars out of the truck.

Little Joe had gotten their forklift to pick the crates out of the trailer and quickly whisk them inside. Inside the crates were V-10 race engines. With top of the line parts already in them, parts only factory sponsored teams got. Titanium connecting rods, ceramic pistons, ported and polished heads and turbo ready titanium exhaust headers. These were expensive engines with all the base parts needed for the twins and little Joe to tune them to Alice's liking.

The driver shook Joe's and Alice's hands. "Have to say I am glad you will be running a full season. Can't wait to see these babies in your capable hands."

Alice smiled. "Thanks and I will give it my all."

Chapter.

The shop got quickly to work on one of the two brand new race cars. In the hopes of having a backup car to bring to the off world race. Of which Alice spent her time focusing on now. She spent a lot of time down at the shop helping build her cars. It took a little burden off of the others and it helped her focus. Alice wanted to know every inch of the car. It wasn't easy but she put the wreck behind her and moved forward with her plan.

Thanksgiving was a different change of pace this year. As they went out to Colorado to spend time with Randy's parents. Wes and little Joe went with the twins up to visit their mother. Sherman and Samantha went out to see her family.

Stacy got around quickly Friday morning. Randy had asked her to be up early, for reasons he had not actually stated. She was still a little sleepy, but was too curious to fall back asleep. They had a quick breakfast and Randy filled a thermos with coffee before they headed out to the barn.

Randy saddled up one of the horses and helped Stacy get on before he got on. Stacy was on cloud nine as he had one arm around her and the reins in his other. A couple inches of fresh snow covered everything and it was chilly since it was still dark out. The snow crunched under the horse's hooves as Randy guided it.

The only thing Stacy was sure of, was they were climbing higher up the mountain the house sat on. The ranch itself covered the whole side of the mountain and most of the valley floor. It was dark, but Randy seemed to know the terrain even better than the horse they were riding. Finally they stopped and got off the horse, which he tied to a tree. Stacy was still wondering what they were doing as they walked over to a fallen tree.

She sat on the tree and watched as Randy built a fire before sitting next to her. He opened the thermos and handed her the cup. "Just a little longer."

Stacy smiled. "Okay."

The sun was slowly coming up, and as the first rays hit the far end of the valley. Randy stood up and held out his hand for Stacy to take. They walked past the fire and stood on the edge of a rock. The ranch buildings below them by a few hundred feet it looked like.

It was slow at first but as the sun climbed above the mountains to the east, the sun light chased the shadows away. Slowly bathing the valley in light as the sun continued its climb into the sky. The fresh snow sparkled in the light as the animals stood in groups.

Randy smiled as Stacy's eyes grew wider as the sun lit up the valley he called home. "So?"

Stacy put her hands up to her mouth. "It is so beautiful."

"Just like you." Randy said and kissed her cheek.

"What's the fire for anyways?" Stacy asked as she sat back down on the fallen tree.

"To let dad know where we went." Randy said with a smile and knelt down in the snow right in front of Stacy.

The little lion's heart about stopped as Randy held her left hand in his while he pulled something out of his coat pocket. "I know we haven't gotten to spend a lot o' time together, but... You mean the world to me, I love you. I really do."

Stacy's eyes grew even bigger as he pulled off her mitten and held up a ring. "Stacy will you marry me?"

Tears of joy ran down her cheeks and she managed to get out a very soft 'yes'. He slid the ring on her finger and leaned closer to kiss her. It was something Stacy had given up on, until the day Nodrog got her a magic potion to make her dream come true. There were not words to express the gratitude she felt. It was a moment she had never thought she would get to experience.

Nodrog smiled as he stood on the porch looking up at the small fire. "You are welcome."

Nodrog glanced back as someone came outside, it was Randy's dad, Curtis. "So he really did it."

"Seems that way." Nodrog said.

"I didn't think that boy was ever going to find a girl." Curtis chuckled before he sipped on his cup of coffee.

"Sometimes it just takes a little longer for some people." Nodrog said and kept the amusement and smile to himself. Mainly the fact Randy had fallen in love with a boy and not a girl. Things just worked out for the better in this case.

"I suppose so. Does that mean you and Roslyn are going to tie the knot?" Curtis asked.

"The topic has come up a time or two. Our relationship is a little different than most." Nodrog said.

Curtis glanced at Nodrog. "Time waits for no one."

"That is what's different." Nodrog said and finished off his own coffee. "The two of us have more time than we know what to do with."

Nodrog took a couple steps away from the porch. Curtis was a little shocked as one of the shadow monsters suddenly stood before Nodrog. Alice had came out to see where the four of them had gone off too. She was a little concerned as Nightrunner stepped out of the shadow.

"Hey! You promised that you would play cards with us." Alice yelled.

Nightrunner raise an eyebrow. "You play cards?"

"I have learned to play several games." Nodrog chuckled.

"Sorry Alice, but we need him for a couple hours. Council business." Nightrunner said.

"There better be no fighting." Alice said and crossed her arms.

Nightrunner bowed. "I promise, there will be no fighting."

Curtis watched as the elf and dragon walked through the shadow. Who waved rather oddly at them.

"Hello Azule." Alice said with a smile and waved. Azule quickly vanished in the same silence as he had appeared.

"What the hell was that?" Curtis asked loudly.

"Well the dark robed elf is an old friend of Nodrog's. I only know him as Nightrunner and the shadow goes by the name of Azule." Alice said and spotted the fire. "Randy didn't tell you some of the stories?"

"What kind of stories?" Curtis asked.

"Guess I'll have to catch you up. Where did my cousin run off with my friend too?" Alice asked.

"Up there." Curtis said and pointed to the fire. "I think I am going to go sit down."

"What are they doing up there?" Alice asked as she followed him inside.

"I guess he doesn't tell anyone, anything." Curtis chuckled.

While Alice and Jenny filled Randy's parents in on a few of the, interesting things that have happened. Nodrog and Nightrunner were walking to the large council hall.

"So they want me to try and sort through all of Glados' memories to see if I can clear up a couple things?" Nodrog asked.

"That is what they told me." Nightrunner said.

Nodrog sighed. "I hope they will not be upset when I have to change into that form."

"You don't mean..." Nightrunner asked wide eyed.

Nodrog nodded. "I might be able to take just Omega form and not the nightmare form. I can't make any promises."

The council had moved outside, apparently they had anticipated he would need to at least take his true dragon form in order to speed up the process. The council and several bystanders watched as Nodrog first took on his true from.

"You might want to stand a little further back, Nightrunner." Nodrog said and focused on changing into Omega Weapon and not the nightmare. Muscles bulged and he grit his teeth as his size painfully increased.

His hands and feet sunk into the earth as his mass continued to increase. Dull metal plates replaced scales, the vertebra in his back deformed and twisted into the gun turrets. Nodrog sighed as the minuet long transformation ended.

Towering above the medieval castle and surrounding city, stood the dull chrome form of Omega weapon. Like a knight in well used armor, a stark contrast to the dark and hellish figure that was Omega Nightmare. Also unlike its dark counterpart, Omega Weapon was a well oiled and maintained weapon. It was silent, and infinitely more precise.

"I think I prefer this form over the other." Eitak said as she stood next to her brother. It was much less terrifying to be in this presence than the dark form's.

"This is the form those humans wanted and spent years perfecting. A sword with the keenest edge, an untiring, everlasting weapon loyal only to those who created it." Nodrog said.

"Who commands your loyalty now?" The council dragon asked.

Nodrog smiled. "No one. Though there are a few who can influence my actions... To an extent. Thanks in part to recent events, as you see I am free to take any form I chose."

"So what is it you wish to know?" Nodrog asked. Though he could not completely hide his amusement.

They were not trivial questions, it was going to take some work to find the answers they wanted. Part of it was a snag in that the council was supposed to report to the elder dragons, but the elders wished to keep their distance. There was also a few sworn oaths that were magically bound.

As much as Nodrog disliked it, he might have to have more dealings with the council. Oaths to Glados became oaths to Nodrog when he ate her soul. That was another matter that now had to be dealt with. Glados' estate needed to be gone through, but it was now completely Nodrog's.

He could appoint people to go through it if he didn't have the time, or wanted to speed the process up. Jenny, Alice and Mianth would be out, simply because no one was sure of what might be found. Roslyn and Dallarth would have the stomachs for it, provided they agreed to it.

Even with Michaela's aid, they could not make any headway curing Black Blood. He knew how Glados made it, but it just could not be undone. That is when an even darker memory from the pure dragon came to light. How to actually make the philosophers stone.

It had been months since they had fought each other on Etal Drasses. Nodrog changed back to his dragon form and laid down. "Nightrunner and Eitak get on."

"What is going on?" One of the fairies asked as Nightrunner climbed onto the dragon's back.

"I know how Glados made the stones... there might be people still alive in her home." Nodrog said and put his snout under Etiak's ass and pushed her up on his back faster. "Summon any healers you can and have them meet us there."

With that Nodrog took off at a run, the ground shaking under his hundred ton dragon form. Glados had a castle to herself several miles south of town. Eitak and Nightrunner held on as Nodrog spread his wings and took to the air. He could not get a clear enough memory to teleport inside the castle.

The pure dragon had a massive stone manor to herself. It was the size of a castle, though it lacked the outer stone walls. The giant wooden doors splintered as Nodrog smashed right through them. Once inside he changed into his false form.

"There is a magic nullification device here." Nightrunner said.

"That is why I could not teleport us here. We need to find our way to the basement." Nodrog said.

The three split up to search for a way down. Eitak found it first. "Over here!"

By now the others had shown up, along with a dozen Hunters. Torches were lit up and they headed down into the basement. The Iron Dragon leading the way in his true dragon form. The castle was built to accommodate dragons above all other beings. It was not big enough to accommodate Glados or Omega, but all other smaller dragons could be in true form.

They rounded a corner and it hit them like a physical blow, the stench simply overpowering. Nodrog lit the torches around the room and even the dragon gave pause to keep his lunch down. A third of them simply had to turn away and make a hasty retreat.

The stone floor was stained from the blood of countless bodies. Carved into the floor was a transmutation circle. Alchemy was still in use by monsters for a number of things. Nodrog knew a little before he had ate Glados' soul, now he knew more than he ever wanted to know.

"Is that a stone in the center?" One of the hunters asked.

"Indeed it is. The largest I have seen." The elder elf on the council said.

Nodrog pinned the elf's robes to the floor with a finger. "I would advise staying out of the circle."

"But the stone is incredibly valuable." The elf said and turned back to look at it. He quickly shed his robes and took a step closer to the stone.

He did not get any further, because the circle was still active and needed more blood. The main ingredient needed to make the philosophers stone was living sacrifices. He screamed in pain as the circle drained his life and soul from his body and placed it in the blood red stone. Which shimmered a little brighter with its newest sacrifice.

"There are at least a hundred bodies here." Nightrunner said as he walked around the circle.

"Do you know how long she had been working on this?" Eitak asked, on the edge of getting sick and fleeing.

"Years, at least four hundred lives have been taken to make this stone." Nodrog said and turned to one of the few healers who remained. "How many know how to make the stones?"

"There is no way to know." The very old female elf said.

Nodrog grunted. "They are a powerful and useful artifact... But does that outweigh their cost?"

"Should we seal the room off?" Nightrunner asked.

As the few remaining council, hunters and healers discussed what to do. Nodrog stewed in anger. They had used philosopher stones to make him, which meant they had killed a hundred or more to make him. For that matter, he could have a liquefied stone coursing through his veins.

It would partly explain why he could heal so quickly, and why he never tired. There could be thousands of souls trapped in his blood to make him what he is today. If it was possible for the stone to be in his blood, it might be possible to put it in another's blood.

"What I am willing to pay?" Nodrog grumbled and dug one of his claws into the stone floor.