FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

20

"It took me about an hour and a half, but I got home and into bed. I thought without Kyle knowing," looking over at his brother.

"I woke up about 1AM having to piss," Kyle broke in, "I stepped out of the bathroom and noticed Kev wasn't in his bed. It was still made. I went to search downstairs, but he wasn't anywhere in the house. I heard the door open and made my way quickly back up the stairs and to my room with my door partially shut. I watched through the crack in the door with Kevin holding ripped up clothing and bare chested."

"The door to Kyle's bedroom suddenly swung open," Kevin broke in, "He almost ran me over trying to figure out what went on and why I was nearly naked."

"I told him that I had fell and tore the fuck out of my clothes. I said that I had twisted my ankle and that was why it took me so long to get back before going to my room and shutting the door," looking over at Kyle with a smirk.

"Yeah," Kyle laughed, "I knew better since you weren't limping and you didn't have your shoes with you either."

Kevin sat back with a rough smile, "There was just too much to think about and I was totally freaked at the time."

"Were you able to find an Alpha by your second shift?" Blake asked.

Kevin shook his head making Blake stare at him steadily. I could tell that it was bothering him.

"More than that," Kevin let out an exhale, "my second shift was when Kyle was attacked."

I could feel Kyle's arms tense around me. I understood the significance and snuggled back against his chest pulling his arms tighter. In some small way, it comforted him.

"It was during my second change that Kyle finally had enough. I felt the pull of the full moon that morning," taking in all of our eyes. "As you know Blake," moving his gaze directly at the fellow Alpha, "It's the first few shifts that are controlled by the moon. For Jesse and Gordon's information, you must understand that we must submit to this pull to keep from going out of our minds. The first few shifts are the most critical for any lycan."

That gave me pause. I was not a full lycan, but yet would I feel this pull? Would it affect my mental state?

Before I could continue this line of thought, Kevin continued, "The evening of my second transformation Kyle and I had another blow out. He wanted to know where I was going and why I had been so secretive. It had only been a month after Kyle had graduated, that I was bitten. I told him that I couldn't talk at the time, but I would think about his request. To say that that didn't settle with him was an understatement. More words were exchanged and he took a swing at me. I ducked and put him in a wrestling hold, pinning him to the floor."

Kevin looked over at Kyle remembering more. His face grew even more serious, "Kyle stormed off into his bedroom after I let him up. I tried to talk to him, but he refused. The time of the shift was near and I couldn't risk staying around any longer. I ran out of the house dropping the clothing in the process. It was only a few feet from the house when the shift hit."

"I was watching from my bedroom window," Kyle spoke up, "I watched Kevin tear out of our parent's home, our home. I stood there stunned as he threw his clothing off and then saw him change. It was like watching a shimmer go across his body as he ran. First on two legs, then he bent forward and his body elongated. Hair grew all over, hands and feet changed, his face pushed out and by twenty feet from the front down here my brother stood on four legs. He was a wolf."

"I really didn't know what to think. I began pacing the room. I seriously was freaking out. My brother had just turned into a fucking wolf," Kyle spoke softly, then ran his hand over his face.

"The only thing that went through my mind was I had to find out how and why. I just couldn't stay and wait. I jumped into my tennis shoes and ran out the door after him. I heard a howl not far away in the distance and followed the sound. I kept yelling out Kev's name. I only hoped he understood me," Kyle said looking back towards his brother.

Kevin nodded, "I could hear Kyle yelling. I really didn't want to face him. I was going to just outpace him and then talk later when I caught a scent."

"The feral?" I asked.

Kyle pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me, "Yes," he said softly.

"The moment I caught the scent," Kevin continued, "I knew exactly who and what it was and feared for Kyle's life. The scent was recent; as in within the hour. The next thing I heard was a howl. It chilled my core because I could instinctively tell it was a hunting howl."

"I heard the howl," Kyle continued to fill in the parts between his brother's explanation. It was easier this way. The way they were telling us made it more understandable about what they'd experienced.

"It was definitely different from what I had heard earlier. It seemed angrier," as Kyle took a breath, "the next thing I know this huge wolf like thing broke through the brush. I knew from the look of it that it wasn't even Kevin. The fur was a completely different colour, not to mention the thing was on two legs."

"It gave this evil chuckle, and I turned and hauled ass. This thing didn't even blink and was on me before I knew what was happening. I was knocked to the ground and slammed into a tree. I struck out with my foot and caught the thing in the balls. It howled and dropped down but before I could get away, it swatted me across the ground. I caught scraps from the forest litter and then realized that it had a gash across my left arm. Fortunately, it wasn't deep," he spoke but kept his eyes on Kevin.

"The next thing I knew was this thing was on top of me and launched itself into my left shoulder. It ground down and bit. It felt like it was trying to remove a large chunk of flesh from my body. I was in so much pain. I know that I was starting to pass out from shock when I heard this second howl and growl. Suddenly I felt a huge fucking jolt to my body though this creature. I looked up through and saw Kevin in wolf form on the back of this thing with his jaws clamped down on the back of its' neck," Kyle said while rubbing his left shoulder.

"The sudden jolt from Kevin and his jaws around its neck made the thing release its' jaws from my shoulder. It bucked its' body and sent Kevin flying backwards but he landed on all fours growling at this creature. It kept looking straight at Kev, staring and making little growling noises but Kev ignored the beast. Kevin circled it and kept making huge running dashes at the thing, making bites on the things digitigrade legs. Kev was too fast for it. I mean it was like he was a fucking blur," Kyle elaborated.

"The lycan looked both puzzled and angry. Kevin finally got between myself and the lycan, snarling and growling at it," Kyle spoke, using the term lycan for the first time in describing what he saw, "I ended up distracting Kevin though when I let out a loud moan. He whipped his head to the side to check on me and lycan struck with a slashing paw and sent Kevin flying."

"Kev lay still on the ground and I thought he was dead. The lycan slowly crept towards me, saliva dripping from its' jaws. I was pretty sure I was a dead man as well but not sure if I was going to be in pieces when someone found us," Kyle watched me closely as I shivered. The thought that I would have lost him unsettling me.

"Just as the lycan got close enough, we both heard this low, deep growl that made the lycan whip his head around. Kev had gotten up and shook his body, crouched low and let out a louder growl. The lycan continued to look at him when suddenly Kev's body began to change. He was shifting again, but now he grew and changed to his anthro form. He was huge, just as tall as the lycan. From what I could see, the lycan that had attacked me didn't expect this to happen. He, well, for better lack of term at what I felt at the time, was surprised," as Kyle scratched his eyebrow.

Kevin nodded, "He was," and continued the story from his brother. "The lycan had kept trying to exhibit some hold on me. I felt it, but shrugged it off like some small bug. When I got hit, it dazed me momentarily. I saw and heard Kyle whimpering and caught sight of it getting ready to strike. Something snapped inside of me; I felt a power rush through me as I felt my body reconfigure. I had no clue what it meant at the time. I wasn't aware of anthro-forms for lycans. I also felt something more. A deeper power that was inside of me. A strong, leadership feeling, but more."

"The lycan had stopped in his attempt to do more damage to Kyle. It had turned and watched me shift. I could feel the confusion come over me in wave after wave. There was puzzlement. It was as the lycan had expected a completely different outcome but didn't understand why. I stared him down. Power pushed out of me and hit the thing. That sent him into even more confusion. He began to twitch. Anger welled within him as he began to get ready to strike when I let out a huge roar. The lycan drew back. Anger turned to fear. He was hurt from my previous strikes and slowly backed away before turning with a howl and bolting from the area," Kevin finished.

"I didn't know what to think," Kyle said, "This thing that had attacked me looked like it was ready to piss itself. Next thing I know Kev lets out this deafening roar and the lycan was slowly backing away in fear. It seemed totally confused about what had occurred. It finally ran in the other direction. Kev walked over and sniffed me. I reached up and touched his muzzle. I just instinctively knew he wouldn't hurt me. He reached down and scooped me up before racing off towards our home."

"I got Kyle to the house and he got himself into the front door and dropped down to the floor. I dipped down and made my way inside before pushing the door shut. I was on my knees next to him, but in this form I couldn't do much and I was worried about the wound. Kyle reached over and grabbed my paw, squeezing it. It touched a part of me. The human part. I grabbed on to that and slowly I shifted back to my human form. He watched the full shift, smiling at me when I was done. "That was pretty awesome," he said, before passing out," as Kevin reached over to grab Kyle's knee.

"I got really concerned and got him to the couch. I ran to the bathroom for the medical supplies and cleaned up Kyle's shoulder. I could tell he had been bitten by the beast. That, in itself, unnerved me immensely but right then I was more concerned with him not getting an infection. I got the wound cleaned and bandage before carrying Kyle to his bedroom. He felt like nothing. There was no way before that I could have picked him up. The strength I had was overwhelming. I got him settled and then ran to the shower to get cleaned up," as he sat back in the chair.

"Ok," Blake spoke up for the first time in a while, "But there is something else you haven't told us, is there?"

Both my mate and his brother nodded. Kevin continued, "I was still in a panic. I had been bitten, Niall hadn't contacted me, this lycan, and now Kyle had been bitten by the bastard."

Kevin rubbed his eyes, "I couldn't really call anyone at the time. I did the only thing I could think of and that was to get on the net. Kyle was sleeping at least. Whatever this thing had done, it had infected him as well. I needed answers. I began scouring the net for anything that was legit. There was so much bullshit stuff. It was difficult to find anything that even mildly could be of use. About my seventh hour of searching and numerous cups of coffee, I found something."

"I had found a link about Native American tribes and their beliefs about taking on the forms of spirit animals. It was mostly with regards to shamans. There were a group of tribes, although most had gone extinct, called the Athabaskans that were in the Northern California area near Humboldt County but they were gone. The majority of Athabaskans resided in Canada. I did come across a few scattered peoples in Oregon. Part of the group of Athabaskans are the Umpqua. There are only 1400 members of the tribe. They held the same beliefs as their relatives in Canada," Kevin said before standing and stretching his legs.

"Kyle had finally awoken and we'd talked. I told him what had happened to me, the man finding me, although I never told him the man's name, and what it meant with him being bitten. I knew we both needed answers and we needed them quickly. The next morning we were packed. We made a trip north to Oregon, finally making the city of Canyonville where the tribal government was based. I left Kyle in the motel while I went to try and do some research. I was less than successful. Most of the people that I encountered were either reluctant to deal with me or thought I was nuts. I didn't let on much but told them I wanted to learn about Native American Shamanism, particularly with regards to the beliefs of shape shifting. I said that I was doing a college research project towards my PhD. It helped but got us nowhere," as he stopped in front of the fire to warm his hands.

He turned and looked back at us, "Later that evening, while Kyle and I were at dinner in a small Mom/Pop place, a very old Native American man was at the counter talking to the help when they pointed our way. He made his way over, pulled out a chair and sat down. He looked at both Kyle and myself before speaking, "You've got a few people nervous young man." I extended my apologies, and it was just that I needed to get some research done. I hoped that I hadn't offended anyone."

"The old man looked back and forth between Kyle and me, then got a strange look on his face. He muttered, "Skinwalkers." He stood up and said, "Come with me." I paid the bill and Kyle and I followed him down the street to a modest little home. He introduced himself as Blackdog and began his tale."

**** Kevin recites the story ****

"My people have been long in this nation, before the white man came. We come from up in Canada and made our way down. Historically, our line created the Navajo, the Apache, and the Umpqua, our people. There were those of another tribe, the Chetco (chit-dee-ni, chit-dee-ne) tribe. The last one of the tribe was thought to have died in 1940. They have always been known by my people as 'skinwalkers'. They were revered and yet feared. Warriors of stature that were never to be believed. They had the ability to take on the form of the wolf, and yet something more human than wolf."

"There was a powerful shaman that was the strongest the tribe had ever seen. He never really stayed on the tribal grounds but away from others, communing with the Great Spirit and the other spirits that surround us all. Eventually, the shaman was forgotten, the last of his people passed, in battle and by some mystical force. The tribe just ceased to exist," Blackdog continued while sitting.

"I know however that is not true. The shaman still lives. This shaman, was a leader and strong in the ways of the Skinwalkers," taking a breath, "He is in the lower forests near us. You will have to seek him out. His name was "Enli" meaning "hear below dog."

*******

Kevin rubbed his eyes, "We searched for this "Enli" for days. Kyle and I camped out in the forest in hopes of finding some sort of clues but coming up empty. It was the night of the next full moon. I could feel the need to shift soon and Kyle was undergoing the change. It was scary for me to watch him, but I did whatever I could to be there with him. Since he was recently bitten, the pull was greater and he began his first shift. I stayed beside him, but the pain he was going through was immense. He was fighting it and I could do little. I couldn't keep myself from shifting and was in a panic."

Kevin returned to his seat and stretched out his legs. He began to tell us more about his meeting with the Native American shaman.

**** Kevin relates more of his and Kyle's story****

Just as I thought everything would go horribly wrong, a very, very, very old Native American man walked through the trees. He said nothing at first. He held a wooden staff in his hands. He leaned down and touched Kyle on the head making him take his eyes to his own. He began speaking in his native language. It was fluid and peaceful. I felt myself calming as well. Kyle stopped wracking his body and began to shift to his wolf form. I felt the need as well, but spoke up. The old man held up his hand, "Go now! Run with your brother. Keep him safe this first shift, teach him to hunt as well. I will be here when you return."

"What could I do? I had to shift. I felt the change take over me and yipped towards Kyle and together we ran to the forest. A few hours later we both returned to find the old man sitting cross legged and meditating in soft spoken words. He looked up as we returned.

He looked at both of us and said, "Welcome back young ones. We have much to talk about. Shift and sit."

Well, Kyle and I just looked at him. I remembered last time that I had thought of my human self and that's when I changed back. I did the same thing. It took a few tries but eventually I could focus on my human form.

I shifted, but Kyle was only staring at me. The old man spoke, "I am Enli. You have been searching for me. The spirits have told me so."

He looked over to Kyle and called him over, "You are new to this young one. Listen to my voice, think of yourself, who you are inside and your human form will return. Deep breaths now."

Kyle stared into his eyes and while I watched his fur slowly began to recede and soon his was naked on his hands and knees. The old shaman looked pleased, "It will grow easier in time."

I spoke up then, "Enli, I am Kevin Evans, and this is my brother Kyle. We were attacked by a werewolf, at least from my research online that's what they are called."

"We call them skinwalkers. As you are, so am I," Enli motioned Kyle to sit by me by the fire he had made.

Kyle spoke up, "We are going to be this way for now on, aren't we?"

The old shaman nodded, "This would normally be given as a gift by a trusted skinwalker to another noble warrior. What has happened to you has been tainted. There is something not normal about either of you. I can smell a difference. The spirits and I have been communing but your true selves have not been revealed yet." He pointed at Kyle, "Especially you."

"Tell me then," I asked, "What makes us different?"

Enli nodded, "The bite you received was tainted. It was not natural. There is something wrong with it but your bodies have compensated for it. They are different. Whoever bit you most likely wasn't aware and didn't expect it."

"Whomever he was," I spoke, "seemed to be very annoyed with me. He tried to enter my mind but it was like a gnat buzzing around me."

"That is because you and your brother are like me," pausing to push the fire some. The heat rose more to take off the chill, "You are both Alpha's. Natural leaders with more abilities than other skinwalkers. You are not easily deceived, or taken advantage. You are natural warriors."

"There is something else," he spoke, "The fact that you both shifted and did so without aid is unheard of by myself or others. It has to be something within each of you. Most skinwalkers, without aid, would go mad within three shifts if not aided by another. You were able to maintain your hold on your identity and even when helping your brother, although, he was having hard time allowing the shift to take, you both maintained your unique personalities. This is something I cannot explain."

**** Kevin returns to the now and continues ****

"He told us about himself. He was born in 1627 and turned by a lycan while in his late 20's. The lycan that was with him was weak and it was only his Shaman training that allowed him to keep his humanity. He taught us many things including how to hide their 'scent' from other lycans. He went underground after the death of his people. There had been fewer skinwalkers made and most only thought it a legend after the United States grew. It was this ability that allowed the Shaman to live in peace," Kevin said finally.

"Wow!" Gordon gasped.

Blake was strangely quiet. "Blake?" I spoke getting his attention.

He looked over at the rest of us. "I'm sorry. I was just thinking about all that was said. It does explain a lot, but..."

"But what?" Kyle asked.

"But what about your ability to retain your humanity? That wasn't answered. If this feral bit you, then you should have changed to feral without help. What was it about you that kept you from turning feral?" his voice filled with annoyance.

"That's why I got in touch with Althea," Kevin said.

All eyes turned back to him. "There is something you need to know Blake," Kevin moved his chair over towards our fellow pack mate.

"After our meeting with Enli," Kevin said to Blake, "I began a deep research into what he said. During this time, in my lycan form, I ran into Althea. There was a little skirmish because she didn't know who I was at the time."

That got my attention. Gran had never said anything about it.

"I shifted," he paused to look at me, "and yelled to Althea who I was so that I didn't get my ass blasted off."

"That sounds like Althea," Blake chuckled.

"Indeed," Kevin agreed remembering her shoot first and ask questions later attitude, "After she realized who I was, well, she was a bit frazzled about almost toasting my ass. I walked from where I was hiding with my hands up so that she understood what my intentions were at the time."

"I told her that I had been trying to track the feral, but I what I didn't tell her was that Kyle had been bitten as well," he paused looking at all of us.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't know," he shrugged, "I guess I was still protective of him. He's my brother and we were already dealing with a bunch of shit and I didn't want to drag him further into the outhouse."

"Makes sense," Gordon said.

"Anyway, I told her about the man Niall, who had helped me," pausing to look at me, "Well, you can guess that got her attention in a hurry. I followed her back to her place," he stopped to look at me, "You were still at the college." "She called Niall after explaining what she was and what your family did. After all that I, or rather we," looking at Kyle, "had been through, well, it didn't sound too farfetched. The three of us talked on the phone. Niall apologized but said something had come up. He never told Althea or I what had occurred, but put me on the course of going to Europe and doing some investigating."

"Which is where you met me," Gordon said. "Yes, and by the way, thank you for everything," taking Gordon's eyes. "Even though things didn't work out for us, I want you to know that I cherished our time and care about you very deeply. You will always be special to me," Kevin said to him.

He turned to Blake, "I hope you can excuse our past and that sentiment."

Blake reached over and gripped his shoulder, "There's nothing to excuse. I'm glad that you met him because then it led him to me. For that I'm truly grateful. You will always be welcome in our home."

Kevin nodded. "Well, my research was consistent and after Gordon left back to the states I got a call from one of the vampires that we'd met. He'd come across some historical tomes about lycan family lines."

"First, you must understand that the feral that bit both Kyle and myself also did more. Somehow the lycan virus that he flooded our blood stream with the virus was twisted by some sort of genetic change created by magic. I had samples of my blood shipped to Niall prior to my leaving for Europe, via Althea. He had a group of friends that were warlocks, witches and druids that were also scientists. They ran tests on my blood and that's how we determined that there was something different. The virus would automatically change anyone to a feral. The virus however was not from another feral," he paused.

"ANOTHER ALPHA!" I gasped out loud running the course of his thinking.

Kevin nodded, "Yes, the so called feral isn't a feral. He's an Alpha. I have just informed Althea of that as well."

"But how come the virus didn't affect you and Kyle that way?" I asked.

"EXACTLY!" Blake asked jumping up, "WHY?"

"This is really bothering you, isn't it?" Kyle said calmly.

"Yes!" Blake grumbled, "There should be no logical reason. If there is anything that few people know about me, it's that logic is at my center. I might be a smart-assed joker but I don't like loose ends."

Kevin stood up, "I got in touch with the vamp and met him at his home. In my research I had already knew that our family traced its roots, like so many others, back to Europe. It was during my research I came across our Mother's side family name which traced back further..."

"Wait, our family name from Mom's side comes from lycan blood lines?" Kyle suddenly spat out.

Kevin nodded and moved over to towards the fireplace again, "I followed it further back through the family trees that were provided. It seems sometime during the middle 18thcentury, the family line that led to Mom's family had a change in the genetic code. This occurred during the Great Plague outbreak of 1738. While our family wasn't susceptible to the plague, it did change us and rendered the lycan gene dormant. It essentially made us human again although we still maintained the genetic code. That code never left the bloodline, ever."

"Our bloodline traces back to central Europe, in the Austro-Hungarian region," Kevin said softly.

Blake's head snapped up from looking down at the floor, "Are you kidding....?"

"No," Kevin said looking at him dead in the eye, "Our blood line traces back to Blake's Mother's side in Europe. There were two sisters, Blake's family line descended from one and ours descended from the other. We are related, distantly, but related to Blake, but holding a latent lycan gene. The twisted virus that this Alpha 'injected' into Kyle and me when he bit us, activated that latent gene during the first transformation. No procreation was needed. We are the last of our bloodline. If we had never been bitten, then the gene would have only been passed down, had we not been gay, and never activated."

"Holy fuck!" Kyle said before picking me up and putting me down on the couch. He walked over to Blake and pulled him to his chest, "Hello Cousin," he grinned and then pulled him into a hot kiss.