FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The Life and Times of Brandon Firestone Part 3

_ _

Brandon returned home as fast as he could, which was actually pretty short since his speed had increased. He started to notice a lot of things changing. His hearing and smelling had gotten stronger and the injuries he had received in the fight with his brother Marcus had healed as well.

As he opened the door to his house he found Shane, K.C. and Carina sitting in the living room.

"What are you doing here?" Brandon asked.

"K.C. got a book from his dad on werewolves," Shane began. "We figured it could help you out."

K.C. got up from the chair he was sitting in and handed Brandon the book. K.C. then noticed that Brandon's clothes were torn and covered in dirt.

"Hey, what happened to you? You get in a dog fight?" The brown haired human boy asked.

"More like a wolf fight, with my brother."

"Your brother!?" Everyone shouted.

"Since when do you have brother?" Shane asked.

"Since an hour ago when I found out I'm also a fire elemental." Brandon stopped himself and sniffed around the room. He didn't smell his mom and he couldn't hear her either. "Look here's what happened."

Brandon then explained to his friends about the note in his room that led him to meet his two half-brothers and how he found out about his elemental powers.

"So, not only are you a werewolf, but you're a fire elemental." Shane asked.

"Wow, you must be one hot dog." K.C. said. Everyone stared at him for a moment before continuing.

"That would explain why your mouth was on fire when you attacked Shane. It would also explain your fur color." Carina said.

"Yeah, I guess it would." Brandon said as he looked at his fur. "If anything I thought I would be a mutant. Anything then being a werewolf."

"It's not that bad." K.C. said trying to help comfort his friend since nobody was laughing at his jokes.

"Not that bad," Brandon retorted. "I'm a werewolf! One of the most feared beings in the world. You know the Vampire and Lycan War was one of the biggest and bloodiest in the Battle for Arcana. Now I have to be careful not to look at the moon or else your dad is going to shoot me with a silver bullet!"

K.C. looked like he had been suckered punch.

"I'm sorry," Brandon said. "I'm just scared. What if I hurt you guys again or what if somebody finds out. They'll probably have to... kill me."

"Nobody is going to kill you dude." Shane said as he stood up and placed his big paws on Brandon's shoulders. "Look, whatever happens will be right there."

For the first time since Brandon turned into a werewolf he actually smiled. He fought the urge to cry. He didn't know whether it was his wolf instincts or if he just didn't want to seem like a baby, but he suppressed the thought of becoming a monster but looked down at his feet to avoid facing his friend.

"H-How are your wounds?" Brandon asked.

"Oh, I took off the bandages this morning." Shane said as he took off his shirt. Brandon stared at the brown bears as he saw three huge scars on his chest.

"I-I'm sorry." Brandon said.

"Hey, you apologized fifteen times at the hospital. Don't worry about it. Besides I think they make me look more intimidating." Shane said as he started to flex his muscles.

Brandon cracked a smile but it soon disappeared when he noticed something.

Shane was glowing, he was surrounded by a faint blue light and so was Carina who was still sitting next to K.C. who seemed to be the only one not glowing. Looking at his own hands Brandon could see a red aura surrounding him.

"Guys, do you notice anything weird?"

"You mean besides K.C.?" Shane said.

"Hey, the world needs weird people like me, we make life more entertaining." K.C. said.

"No, I mean we're glowing," Everyone cast Brandon a strange look. "I'm serious; everyone except for K.C. is glowing."

"Uh, Brandon are you sure you're feeling okay?" Shane asked. "We already have one crazy person, we don't need two."

"Yeah, it takes a lot of work to be as crazy as me." K.C. said.

"Wait, didn't your brother say you were a fire elemental?" Carina said. "Maybe what you're seeing has something to do with that."

Brandon considered what Carina said and started to think.

"Bring the book; we're going to my room."

Brandon and Carina were the first to enter Brandon's bedroom, K.C. second, and Shane last because he was still putting his shirt back on.

"When I got home I found this book on shamans and fire spirits." Brandon said as he pulled the book from under his bed. "I guess I get why it talks about fire spirits, but I still don't understand what the shaman stuff it for."

"Hey, Brandon what's that thing on the floor?" K.C. said pointing to an orange red crystal with note attached to it.

"Huh, I didn't see that earlier." Brandon said as he picked up the crystal and read the note.

"Yo, Brandon its V. Forgot to drop this off it probably would have helped with your fight. It's called a firestone. It's supposed to help you with your fire powers and control them better. It's also where you got your surname from, you're descended from a tribe of fire shamans, okay that's all! I'll be checking on you later, peace!"

_ _

"Okay, that explains a lot." Brandon said.

"Exactly what does that explain?" Shane asked.

"Shamans have the ability to see things that normal people can't because of their connection to the spirit world. So, the glowing stuff that Brandon's seeing is because he is a shaman. And his fire powers are probably because he's a fire shaman too, since his ancestors probably made a pact with fire spirits."

Everybody looked at K.C. in disbelief.

"What? My dad is head of the S.N.T, it's not like I'm not going to learn stuff."

"Okay, well if there is anything else you can tell me K.C. I would really appreciate it." Brandon said as he looked back at the crystal. "Because it feels like things are going to keep getting weirder from now on."

****

The entire week Brandon and his friends spent the majority of their time looking up information on werewolves. During this time Shane and Brandon were bombarded by the other kids at school with questions on what happened the night of the werewolf attack.

Shane seemed to like the attention but whenever somebody tried to ask Brandon he would change the subject or avoid the question entirely. A few more days passed and everyone was still meeting at Brandon's house.

"Okay, so werewolves are super strong, super fast, super endurance, and have regenerative powers. Sounds like your indestructible Brandon." K.C. said.

"Yeah, I'm jumping for joy and wagging my tail." Brandon said flatly.

"What's wrong?" K.C. asked shutting the book and moving closer to the red furred wolf/dog.

"Regeneration is the power of an immortal. I'm going to outlive all of you guys."

"Aw, somebody needs a hug." K.C said as he grabbed Brandon's tail and snuggled it around himself and its owner.

"Remind me again why I hang out with you." Brandon said as he tried to pull his tail away.

"Because I'm loveable, cute and because the creator makes you."

"Right..." Brandon said as he finally pried his tail away from the little human boy and went over to the window.

Looking out towards Carina's house he wondered what was taking so long. Shane said that he would be late but Carina was right across the street.

"I wonder...if she's afraid of me." Brandon said as he looked up at the sky. To his horror the moon was full. "K...C..."

"Hold on Brandon, I think I found something," K.C. said as he rapidly flipped the pages. "Turns out depending on what stage the moon is at when you're turned into a werewolf decides how powerful you can become. I wonder if it means the same for you since you were born one."

When Brandon didn't reply K.C. turned around to see if he was alright. That's when he saw two big glowing green eyes staring at him.

"Daddy..." K.C. squeaked.

****

"Oh man I'm really late." Shane said as he rushed toward Brandon's house. As he neared the mailbox he saw a grey cat heading for the door. "Hey, Carina what's up?"

Carina looked up startled but smiled when she saw who it was. "Hey, Shane I'm fine."

"I'd thought you'd already be inside with Brandon and K.C."

"Yeah, well I sort of have a family problem. That's why I was late."

"Oh sorry what was the emergency?" Shane asked

"It's my uncles Bob and Justin, they're missing and..."

Shane and Carina heard a loud scream coming from Brandon's bedroom. The two half-beast rushed into the room only to find a disturbing sight.

"Down boy, down!" K.C. yelled as the blood red werewolf kept licking his face.

****

"The land of Arcana has changed much since my imprisonment."

A figure in a dark cape said as he surveyed his surroundings. From what he had learned half-beast were no longer slaves but equals now. Humans had created strange devices with their technology like cars and...television. The magical beings themselves were actively interacting with people.

"It will take some time, but I will change this land, this world... back to the way it was meant to be."