VATROU

War Never Changes

Featuring @Tiberius67

A village frozen in a harsh land - 7:00 local time

Stumbling numbly into the long house Fontaine looked up to see the steam genny standing tall sending a warm reddish hue out with each passing second as she struggled to find a decent seat as seemingly every villager had assembled for supper each with bowls of soup whale fat alongside them while tiered frostbitten whalers sampled the fruits of their labor. Hanging her coat off the side of her chair she clipped her helmet to her belt and pulled out a MRE in another time it was fresh spaghetti and meat sauce perhaps packaged in a way that actually persevered the food many soldiers hoped. Opening the package Fontaine busted out her p38 and went to work opening the can tearing open the spaghetti and watching as everyone let out a ghastly gasp as this gelatinous mush plopped down on the tray, she poked at it and it resembled maggots far from the meal she had hoped to receive after raiding an old abandoned military crate. As one of the natives next to her got up she sniffed the meal looking to see if that was actually edible and just like to popped can of cheese and crackers it sadly was not. Immediately tossing out the pecan cake for nuts never preserved well in these types of kits she was nearly going to abandon her meal dumping everything into a trash can before she was stopped from leaving with a bowl of soup being placed out in front of her.

“Have yourself a proper meal,” The man said as she began to nod furiously thanking the man without a single word. “Don’t worry it’s on me.”

Setting the bowl down she grabbed a notepad Thankyou setting aside the cigarettes from the MRE, Fontaine took the time and ate letting the soup and the steam genny warm her from her core. Her small frame was more visible as she slipped her coat over her shoulders buttoned it up and adjusted her helmet and set off to explore the surrounding wasteland.

Kodiak, Alaska - Kodiak Airport - 7:35 Local time

“Sister Amanda”, the Scribe said, “It’s time to go….the aircraft is leaving for home”

“Very well”, Amanda Nakamura replied, “Inform the pilot that I’m done here and he can proceed at his convenience.”

Amanda sighed as she looked at the poster, holding it, on it’s plastic sheet backing one last time at arm’s length before sliding it back into it’s storage case. It was Pre-War...they had found it on one wall of the Launch Control Center of the missile silo. It said,

To err is human…..to forgive is not SAC Policy

Between the two phrases, was the heraldic emblem of the Pre-War Strategic Air Command, a shield with a medieval armored fist over a clear blue sky with a few small clouds. Where the official SAC emblem had the armored gauntlet holding a pair of lighting bolts, the gauntlet on this poster held a pair of severed human testicles by the vas deferens instead. Whether it was just black humor perpetrated by bored missile crews, or an actual official propaganda poster, she had no idea. Either way, it nicely illustrated the insanity that had taken hold of their ancestors and destroyed the Old World. Commander Fulman had noticed her looking at it every time she passed it, and had it taken down and mounted, presenting it to her as a going-away gift. She had already decided where it would be displayed in her office back at the Bunker. She closed the case, and checked the straps that held it in place with the other cargo, the metal lined boxes that held the disassembled re-entry bodies they had extracted from the missile, and the plutonium cores. Satisfied everything was properly stowed, she walked aft along the cavernous interior of the old cargo aircraft, nearly filled by the bulk of the disarmed Minuteman XI ICBM….a break in the weather had allowed it to be extracted from the silo early, so that it could be sent back to Nebraska for repurposing as a satellite booster…..and disembarked out the open cargo doors, which began to close as soon as the pilot noticed her trudging out onto the runway. Once the doors closed, the crew began to prepare for the long flight hole, the engines starting with a whine.

Amanda walked towards the smaller aircraft waiting for her, a C-130, without looking back, shivering in the cold as she noticed the first rays of dawn over the horizon. One mission was accomplished, but another was beginning…..another faction in Alaska asking for Brotherhood to cope with the remnants of the past. She would take charge of the mission, as the needs of the War Effort made it inefficient to send another Scribe of her rank out to relieve her...and if Chinese strategic weapons were recovered, she was best qualified to deal with them anyway. She didn’t mind, though, the work was important, she would do her duty as always. At least the flight to Anchorage would be relatively short, just a couple hours.

Anchorage Airport- Several Hours later

Amanda crinkled her nose for a moment as the rear cargo doors opened, letting the cold in, relaxing as she got used to it. Winters in Nebraska were cold, but this was somewhat worse. As the doors opened, she and her new team, many of which she only knew professionally and some she had never met until she boarded the aircraft at Kodiak, disembarked out the open cargo door at the rear, noticing some locals, supervising some battered old cargo bots, waiting patiently to board and offload the cargo.She hesitated a moment at the foot of the ramp, looking for a sign that would tell her who was the senior of the group.

Swinging his arms to direct the cargo bots, a man covered in hide and fur looking more like a walking gorilla than a human in his winter getup stepped over removing his hood and cutting his bulky profile almost in half. “Afternoon, call me Dev. We got ourselves a short jaunt over to the trainyard. Not more a 20 minute walk, we’ll be passing through the warehouses on the way so you’ll be plenty warm.” Taking a short moment to laugh he continued on. “Well as warm as you’ll get before spring; apologies for the cold the steam gennys have been breaking down lately otherwise we’d be toasty enough. If you’ll follow me.” Leading the group towards the old pre-war hangars tall walls cut from logs and trimmed of branches lined not only the entrance but the path through several warehouses with cylindrical radiators humming along in only a few spots leaving ice to build up and wood to crack. While several spots leaving a shivering cold the warehouse of the trainyard came into sight; larger than the rest and with more working steam gennys sat in the middle of working areas with a large robotic arm mounted along the inside of the trainyard sat loading in supplies. “She’s an old girl that one. Runs fine enough on the rails but whines when it simply gets too cold out. We got a mess hall on the right side and a seating area. It’ll be a bot before all is loaded so, grab some food. If you need me I’ll be directing everything over.”

“Thank you, Dev”, Amanda said, then she and her comrades filed into the mess hall, taking their place in line to get served. Served a respectable meal of baked fish, potatoes, and carrots, she sat down and ate, finding the food pretty good...certainly better than she had gotten in boot camp when she did her National Service twelve years ago, though that food was rather mediocre on purpose. She saw that as a good sign, the people here seemed to be doing rather well….which was good as based on the briefing she had gotten from Barnaky himself, of all people...or robot, as it were, on the flight from Kodiak she was going to be here a while.

Over by the mess hall standing under a sign that read, plenty have ate from this kitchen to lead healthy lives; the cook simply prepared more as other workers shuffled in some finishing their shifts others about to start. Taking a cast iron skillet he walked over towards Amanda and her team. “Have a few local delicacies since we’re up by the river we’re never short especially on sea peaches.” Setting it down fried little carrot like things popped as the skillet cooled. “They’re a little sweet and salty, but it’s all good. Kriner’s kitchen is always open if you need to eat.”

“Thank you”, Amanda replied brightly as she held out her plate for the cook to ladle some of the ‘sea peaches’ from his skillet to it. Eating one, she found it good and ate some more. While they did get fish back in Nebraska, seafood was a rarity, occasionally brought upriver from New Orleans, and quite expensive. Living on the coast, seafood was probably the main staple of their diet so until it became routine, seafood would be something of an adventure for her.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

Good times, I don't get a day off from work until after next week. Gonna put me in a tough spot writing wise. But I'll see what I can do to not fall behind.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

I still prefer Citadel myself for Maddy. As Valencium sounds complicated to say and just not as fun.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

My apologies for lack of posts, I have been extremely ill the last few days and am now in hospital expecting an operation soon. It's nothing dangerous, but I'm sure y'all can appreciate my creativity has taken something of a hit right now, dehydration and medication are a fun combination.

I will post once I'm back home with laptop access and feeling a little better. ^_^

@Eventua

Rest easy now and see you around when you get back.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

Pftt. Killing Eve and Barry are two new shows coming out about assassins. I had assumed it said Killing Eva and Berry. I was wait what? Since when was Eva and Berry a TV show? And why weren't we informed.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

MUUAHAUHAHAHAH! It begins. New blood. Also Hi.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

Inr

Thundering Rock 'N Roll

As Hound Dog found himself separated landing with a crackling thunder other Hounds were not pleased at his gradiouse display of power which in his mind was simply making good use of a situation and as the clear sky suddenly became overcast with wind and rain lighting gathered ”What a nice night, Youse all should be running. Though that’s not a choice.” Streaks of lighting charged the ground as Hound Dog strolled past snapping his fingers as he bobbed along to his head phones with lighting pooling up beneath his feet each strike piercing Hounds left and right bullets had a hard time even reaching him as a wild storm followed in his wake using not only the rain as a shield but the lighting around him allowed him to maintain somewhat of a barrier as the coiled pent up electricity began to focus around him. Hound Dog started to look less and less human even though physically he was still the same it was his energy the way it moved and danced about him; to his enemies and those observing him he looked like the last boss of some dungeon crawl, overwhelming power shrouded his human form and created exaggerated features. ”You lot fracture me, split me right down the ribs.”

“FU*& YOU MUTIE!” Firing rounds into the freaks’ barrier the hounds began retreating as a half mech soldier moved forward to cover their rear. Some sort of power suit frame adorned the black body armor as if they were hacked together holding some sort of weapon.

”What are you doing all chromed plated? Youse here to throw down because I don’t think youse understand how electricity works.” Inside Sinclair felt a need to release some of his pent up anger, and certainly not a single soul aside from maybe Voyager would complain about a few dead hounds.

As the Chrome Plated Hound fired; Hound Dog could see the way the weapon functioned and within an instant he had stopped the electrical field surrounding the projectile however a frozen shard jammed right into his shoulder a piece no larger than a chopstick, the pain sent him to his knees an unpleasant sensation that Sinclair had forgotten after soo long. His eyes crackled. Better dull my senses for this next one, might not be able to stand otherwise Sinclair couldn’t tell really if his nerves had stopped firing like he wanted them too. But he had little time to be entirely sure.

“What’s wrong freak, can’t take the pain.”

”You should be careful, lighting always strikes twice.” Standing as blood dripped and washed away in the heavy rain thunder clashed above him as streaks reached for the sky. Hound Dog could feel the immense heat and wondered Is this what I’ve always felt everytime I use my powers? Huh, no wonder. Doc’s improvements must have finally reached their limits. A bolt of lighting a powerful force of nature unlike anything man has ever seen striked not once but thrice each larger than the last leaving a completely charred corpse in it’s crater as the burnt metal hung barely on the former hound.

”That gun was something sure. But you were just some ankle bitter reaching for power you could never obtain.” Hound Dog could feel the sides of his shoulders aching as he removed his jacket seeing the damage the heat from lighting generated. ”Looks like it didn’t fully absorb the energy, gonna need to work with Martel to dampen the heat generated.” Opening his fingers and clenching his fist Sinclair felt off. Might need to test more but I feel like I lost some sensation in my finger tips. Maybe my body needs a few more seconds to adjust. Righty-O time to meet up with Voyager. Should be on the right track. Taking a step towards the building he last saw her land on feeling lighter with some weight brushed off his shoulders and hounds dispersed for now.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

You know Lady Hex just made Hound Dog more powerful. Wind, rain lighting. That's like begging him to kill as many Hounds as possible. I wouldn't be surprised if Lighting becomes sparse as he starts gathering it.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

@Afro Samurai hmm. I see you like to tease us.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

Mentions

@DearTrickster
@Indy Cooper

And

Starring Carrie as Mrs.Teacher

In the Quest For Family

---

Time: Later that Afternoon - Day of Satellite Attack
Location: Carrie’s Apartment, Lost Haven

“Okay Berry, try again.” Carrie said kneeling in front of her grimoire tome. Berry was across from her.

They had spent the afternoon practicing various forms of concentration, clearing of the mind, connection with the spiritual energy surrounding her. Carrie felt it so strongly, it was unwieldy and raw. Littered around them were various stones, cracked in pieces or sitting in neat dust piles. Carrie hoped Charlie would help her put them back together later. Normal stones were not able to withstand the energy, moonlit charged gemstones barely held on for much longer. Carrie had also exerted her own guidance, allowing her own magic to guide Berry’s - appealing to the very present and instinctual animal she was.

The Clan were making themselves at home doing whatever they needed to do, Carrie pretended not to see them for their comfort.

They were practicing levitation, basics to help learn some control.

Berry attempted a rose quartz crystal next, but insistent knocking at the door broke both of them from their revery. The dogs woofed at the door unenthusiastically.

“Hold on Berry, let me go see who that is. I think we need a break anyway, watch some tv.” Carrie commented, stretching her back then picking up the tv remote to turn the set on, she flipped through until she landed on the kids channel. They were sitting in the living room, surrounded by the animals. Some who were curious enough to watch, others just wanted to be in the same room. They were always startled when a gem popped.

Berenice scowled at the box in the corner, then selected another stone. Carrie had been adamant all day about rest breaks, but the siren knew she had little time to prepare herself for the battles to come. So every time Carrie had called a break, Berenice instead practised the little bit that Salamander had explained in the short time they had spoken. Medication, or something close to that. Anyway, she was trying to sense the world around her without using her senses. So far she had only been able to feel her plumage.

Carrie looked out the peephole, confused by what she saw. A teenager with streaks in her hair. Reminding her of Harry. She left the chain lock in and cracked open the door.

“I already recycled my bottles this week, sorry can’t contribute to the high school bottle drive.” Carrie said, making a shooing motion. “Very busy, try the neighbours below they’re really into wine.”

Trying not to be too offended that she was confused as a fundraiser kid Eva responded a little snarky.

”Do I look like someone who does school activities? I was told I could find a friend I suppose I could call her that here at this exact residence. Is Berry home?” Eva said as she stood at a strangers house not sure how she should introduce herself. ”I go by Pendragon. After the Arthurian legends, I have quite a bit of connections to them. Considering he was my great or some such grandfather. I don’t actually know how far back the great should go.” Awkwardly Eva announced as she hoped that at least this lady would be friendly.

Salamander appeared next to her, grinning crookedly and leaning up against the wall. “I told you she’d be just as charming as her friend, though I suppose you haven’t met her yet either.” He turned his head to address the homeowner through the small aperture. “Sorry to bother you, young lady, but I’m afraid the fate of an entire tribe is hung in the balance for either half, and we’d like to reunite them.”

Berry startled when she heard the sword girl’s voice, causing the stone she was trying to levitate to rocket into the ceiling before detonating, but she had already chirped in pleasure and scooted out of the rain of quartz shards and dust, opening her wings near to full and hopping up beneath Carrie’s arm to stick her face as far through the door as possible.

“See, Car-ree? I told you there was a sword girl! You can tell her about the men with guns and the beast of bodies and the Clan is here, Sunheart!” This all came out as a string of syllables, more than a real, constructed sentence.

Eva paused as both Salamander and Bernice began to crowd around the doorway.

”Um, I really wish I were here for your bottles now. The other night was grand, had some gents who just wouldn’t bugger off, bless the Queen of E that we managed to escape you know. Hounds had their hands full with some undead twit. And I, don’t know a clan. No.” Said Eva as she leaned in to Berry. ”I thought that was a no go.”

”That is not a concern here, Warrior,” said Sunheart, peeking out from beneath the siren’s hair. ”Though perhaps we should adjourn inside?”

”Yeah inside might be best given Bernice’s physicality yeah. Can I come in?”

Carrie gave a long, “Ooohhh.” Understanding now herself.

Using her hip to shuffle Berry out of the way she closed the door to unlock it. Opening it wide, she let the odd pair into her home taking their word for it. “You must be Salamander then, the mysterious glue to the necromancer problems.” She commented plainly. The animals watched Salamander and Eva enter.

Carrie’s tabby cat hopped up to her shoulder, watching. Oscar the raven flew immediately to Salamander’s shoulder quorking his hello.

Carrie patted Eva’s shoulder, “My dear, if there was no threat of terrorist nutjobs running around I wouldn’t see a reason to seriously caution against blurting your secrets to strangers, but please do consider who might be listening. Secrets are what keep us alive.”

”Not getting attacked by nutjobs keeps you alive longer. Though as it’s my hero name it’s not too big a secret where I got it from I suppose; I’ll keep that in mind however.”

As the door closed, the Clan swarmed out. Around thirty tiny people erupted from the cabinetry, putting away weapons they had drawn at the knock of the door. They called out greetings to the children and elders that came out from Eva’s person, and there were many tight hugs and sobbing from elderly women and parents of the children. Sunheart watched from Berenice’s shoulder, staying apart from the celebrations, a grim look on her face. She glanced up at Salamander, who was muttering something to Oscar, and said ”No word on the others who departed on their own?”

Salamander regarded her with a kind look. “Your people are too adept at hiding even from my senses, little princess. They will be along, I am sure, but I could not find them myself.”

The old man grinned at something Oscar quorked into his ear, turning to Carrie. “You, madam, I thank for your hospitality. Your friend here says you provide excellent food for him and his subjects, though I doubt the cats would agree to such a title. You are correct, I am the one known as the Salamander. However, as you have let me into your home, and seeing as both my sort-of grandchild and the Inheritor are here, I suppose I should at least let up on the illusions.”

With that, his face practically melted, the beard receding until it was gone, hair turning jet black, shiny, and long. After it was over, he stood almost six inches taller, broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, looking very much Native American. His eyes were almost exactly like Oscar’s.

“Your riddle is making more sense to me now. I wonder if Charlie will puzzle it out.” Carrie commented scratching Oscar’s scruff, “No problem. Oscar has told me as much before, during communions. My coven, my family have had connections to animals for generations.” She was smiling, his transformation not fazing her the least bit. Spirit came in whatever form it chose.

Berry, for her part, stood as politely to the side as she could while the pair made their way in, but as soon as the door was closed and introductions made, she fairly threw herself at Eva, wrapping the girl’s waist in a tight hug and chirping like a robin. ”Thank you thank you, sword girl! You brought all of the children here safely!”

Carrie saw the new wave of people come off of Eva - Pendragon, that revelation slowly sinking in. Smiling a big grin at the happy reunions. Charlie wasn’t going to believe her.

Taken back from the sudden embrace Eva was more confused as to how to respond back. Her face clearly showed some distraught.”HOW DOES ONE HUG A BIRD PERSON!? Um, uh. Yes. Hugs are good, hugs are fine. Anyone have tips for this?” Eva said as her arms tried to find somewhere to hug back unsure if she should wrap around the wings or the torso.

“Well,” said Salamander, resuming his usual appearance, “As lost family has been reunited and introductions have been made, I must be off. There is a rogue student of mine that needs to be found. Berenice, you are not to pursue him on your own, though you feel you must, I am sure. You are not close to being ready to face him, and I am sure he built safeguards into you in case you turned on him, built in weaknesses he can exploit. Until we find out what those are, there is no safe way for you to engage him.”

He turned to Carrie. “I am afraid my little friend must stay safe, and I see no other option other than for her to bunk here with you. I can reimburse you if that is an issue, financially or otherwise, though you seem the type to refuse it even if you needed it.” He sat a small pouch on the counter and tipped his hat. “Thankfully,” he said with a wry grin as he reached for the doorknob, “you’ll have to work to find a way to change that into something more usable, I think.”

Carrie nodded, “You won’t stay for supper? Already feeding a small army.” She joked. Weighing the sack curiously, “I don’t mind obviously, Berry is welcome here as long as she needs a safe place. I just hope I can keep it safe.”

“I’m afraid not. Too much to do, and you seem to have a full house as it is. I will acquire a means of staying in touch.” And with that, the Salamander was out the door and gone, not so much as footsteps on the stairs giving away that he was still anywhere nearby.

Carrie placed the sack back down, looking over her guests. “Probably should think about security a bit more. Always got by on good neighbours.”

With so much more to protect, to look after for - Carrie felt quiet resolve.

”Yes yes. Hugs are okay.” Eva said as she finally reached around Berry’s head unsure where her own arms should even go. ”So now that Mr. Owl from the tootsie roll pop commercial is gone. Dinner does sound nice. All I’ve had is tuna from a quick stop, sure the sandwich was alright but I do miss a healthy meal. We need anything, I could actually portal away for something if you need.” As Eva said finally free from Bernice’s feathery embrace. ”I could also use a pizza, you guys ever ate from John’s pizzeria? Off Bleecker street? It’s grand. Amazing pies. Wait what time is it anyways? Are they even open?” Eva said as she checked her phone.

The crowd of the Clan perked up, and several made a dash for their spaces inside the walls. They came back out with their own meal, one explaining that they couldn’t possibly put anyone to the bother of portioning for them because the Big Folk wouldn’t understand how. They did, however, share what looked like fire roasted snails with the cats as a peace offering.

Berenice looked puzzled as Eva mentioned pizza. ”What is this? Is it like fish? I do not know anything about the human nest foods, I am sorry. But I can go get fish if you want?” Her wings folded back on themselves and tucked along her back, but even as she said that, her eyes caught the stones that she and Carrie had been practising with, and she began sidling back towards them.

”Not fish, but that’s good.” Eva said as she watched the clan with their tiny dishes. ”This is OMG. I don’t know what words I can use right now.”

“Pizza it is.” Carrie said grabbing her phone. “I think you’ll like it Berry.” Calling her favourite pizza place Carrie flipped through channels on the tv heading toward the news channel.

A phone operator picked up her call, “Hi I’d like to make an order for delivery-”

She dropped her phone at the breaking news headline. Scrolling names of cities listed as destroyed from a satellite attack.

News anchors confirming death in the thousands. “This isn’t real…” She mumbled. “How? I thought- . . .”

Carrie covered her mouth looking to Eva and Berry.

The siren chirped in curiosity as the news came on, then stared at the pictures of ruins and smoking craters, uncomprehending until she saw Carries horror-stricken face. ”Car-ree...That’s a movie, right Car-ree? One of those fake things you land people put on sometimes, right?” She cut herself off as the channel went black for a second, and then the ominous warning from the Hounds played. Her plumage bristled at the message, but in the back of her mind, she also memorised the sound of the man’s voice, so she would know when she came across him. Static discharges played in her hair.

”Car-ree. How many? How many nestlings?” There was significant strain in Berenice’s voice. All of the Clan suddenly looked up at the sound. Her talons were digging grooves into the flooring.

”Too many, more than the clan, or there trees in the forest where you lived combined. I’m likely underestimating here but one too many to count. Bollocks. There’s nothing I could do for that, orbital strikes. You see them in movies and you think that’ll never happen.” Eva was still shaken however compared to the sheer horror Carrie held in her eyes and Bernice’s instinctive reactions, Eva began to wonder why she felt more calm. Reaching for her anti depression pills she popped one straight into her mouth and turned to Carrie.

”I think we should stay in touch, in case something happens you call me and I’ll teleport over. Likely the other heroes are beginning to assemble, but I’ll leave this matter up to them. I’m not capable of taking down a space weapon. It might be best we prepare instead.”

Carrie rounded on Eva, “We don’t know anything right now!” Angrily she shut the tv off.

Carrie turned to the siren, desperately quiet and forcing herself to be calm. “Berry please, take some deep breaths like we were practicing e-earlier. In through your nose, control. Search for your control. We don’t know the extent of the bad things that happened here tonight.” Quick, she licked her lips exterting her own will to calm. “Think, think with that big bird brain of yours. Think about where your breath is going, how it fills your diaphragm.”

Carrie mimicked a deep breath, using the motion to calm her own panic away.

“Right Pendragon?” Carrie bumped her elbow against the teen. “We need to stay calm.” She nodded at Berry, brow furrowed.

Eva knew Carrie had to be angry with her, but she never really thought about glossing things over if it was bad and it sure as hell looked bad then there was nothing anyone could do to make it sound pleasant. ”Right, being angry isn’t going to help others, it’ll put more in danger. I have a sword that can cut people down like they’re paper. If I’m not careful, not in control of myself I could easily hurt innocents. There’s a great deal of discipline to swordsmanship or the act of weilding a sword. It’ll be the same for you Berry. You are potentially dangerous, and if you want to protect what you love you’re going to need to hone your abilities to always be in your control.”

”I don’t like killing, it’s bad enough I see ghosts but I’d rather not have blood on my hands. And yet. I could easily kill someone with the flick of a wrist. I’m not in some moral high ground where I can’t kill. But I don’t feel like I should be deciding who lives or dies by my hand, I’m not a Judge and there are better people to make that choice. What we saw was bad men doing horrible things, men who committed genocide. And not stooping to their level by killing by understanding that we can be just as dangerous and that by keeping ourselves in check we are better for it.”

The siren stood there, chest heaving with the effort of trying to keep herself in check. While there was no wind this time, the static continued to discharge in her feathers, and the twinkling motes faded in and out of view. Her golden eyes flicked from Carrie to Eva as they spoke. ”Life and death are simple out in the wilds, Pen-dar-gon. If you need to eat, you kill the rabbit and you eat. If a wolf tries to kill and eat you, you fight back until it runs or it dies. These...“ her voice cracked, and went suddenly more melodious, even if it was choked with emotion. ”These egg crushers are the same! They do not care about your laws and morals, do they? They just want to hurt and to kill. They are like the mad beast, foaming and snarling. There is only one answer for them, even if it hurts you to do it. If they are not dealt with swiftly, more nestlings die, and that is not to be let to happen!”

Berenice had no idea why everyone seemed to be so ill at ease with her reactions. She was angry, angry enough that her talons continued to flex, though she guiltily realised that they were damaging Carrie’s nest and tried to relax them. To alleviate that feeling, she began hopping from one to the other, to keep herself moving, to feel some sort of motion, even if it wasn’t to resolution of the problem. But the animals had all backed away from her, the Clan were hiding behind cups and other things on the counter and staring at her. Carrie and Pendragon seemed to be trying to get her to calm down, but she knew now was not the time for calm.

Then her human brain caught up: “You have no idea where their nests are, nor how to fight their guns or numbers. The only thing you can do is learn how to do so later.” As the idea took root, she suddenly slumped in defeat. Her feathers relaxed, her shoulder drooped, and her wings suddenly fell, not even bothering to fold up as she sat down. Tears ran down her face, emotions boiling over, and since anger and fighting was not an option any longer, she did the only other thing she knew how to do. She tilted her head up and sang out her sorrow, notes from a hundred different voices of birds mixing with her own human one in a haunting cry of despair and regret.

Carrie gasped quickly clasping her hands to her ears and as suddenly as Berenice began to cry the animals around her wailed their shared grief as well. The dogs howled their sadness, the cats whined, Oscar came to her shoulder to perch and look for attention. The feedback from the animals and Berry’s immense sadness hit Carrie like a freight train. She tried to close her mind to her animal companions but they washed over her. She went to her knees, tears dripping down her cheeks. She strained to keep her hands on her ears. She felt the despair, the regret with intensity from various sources, she lost the battle to the emotions. Squeezing her eyes shut she sobbed.

The neighbours below began to audibly sob as well, banging a broom against the roof.

”I think.” Said Eva as she stepped closer while Carrie and quite literally everyone sobbed, taking care to ensure Bernice could clearly see her approaching as she began to feel off as Bernice’s cry echoed through the room. ”That learning what to do with your anger might be best. Unlike the wolves, no perhaps like the wolves of the forest there are enemies and dangerous beings who’ll take advantage of you, use your anger against you or make you hurt others in anger without realizing how innocent they are. Take a look around. The Clan, the animals they’ve sensed the danger coming from you, and while they know you want to protect them they are not sure what you’ll do in anger.” Stepping an inch closer amidst the weight of despair Bernice radiated Eva spoke. ”As you live among humans and others you’ll begin to feel even more emotions, good, bad, evil, things you never thought yourself capable of. But there are people here who want to help, allow you to experience and what to do with what you learn. The people here seem nice and caring. They have a good home that feels warm to me so allow yourself to understand what you are and are not capable of.”

Berry wept for a few moments more, before something small flew from off of the counter and struck her square on the end of her nose. The birdsong suddenly died off as she reared her head back, going cross-eyed to try and see the tiny spear that was stuck there. Glancing up at the counter, she saw new figures, including the Chief. Behind the clan, the door was just closing as two warriors hauled in what looked like a rotting pigeon carcass. ”Why are you bringing foul food in? That has been dead too long to eat.”

The Chief stared up at the big folk, a scowl on his face. “We found it outside, staring at your door. There were more that scattered when we took this one, and it put up a very nasty fight.” One of his arms hung limp, dripping blood. Several others also bore wounds, with one lying still on the counter while a few of the women bound his leg into a splint. “This place may be under attack soon, by whatever sent that which destroyed our home. And you,” he said, pointing savagely with his good arm at Eva. “You need to inform me where my people have been. How many are missing or dead? Where did you take them? And you,” he snarled at Sunheart. “There is much you need to account for, starting with why the Big Ones are standing here staring at our people!”

Carrie broken from the birdsong, coughed reigning herself in. Dragging a sleeve under her eyes she took long steadying breaths patting her chest. “I can explain, just- ugh give me a second.” The grey tabby came into her arms for cuddling. All the animals distressed in various stages. “One moment.”

Finding her balance and tending to the animals, whispering to them individually. Comforting pats, soft words, blanketing the room with her own magic. Cuddling her cat, she stopped at Berry last setting the cat aside she hugged her as well.

“It’s going to be alright Berry. I promise we’ll figure it out, but it’ll be alright.” She pat down her hair, residual static snapped across her finger tips. The dogs took up Berry’s sides, the cats tried to take up space in her lap. The animals now projected the calm Carrie felt herself, magnifying her magic. Carrie looked up to the dead pidgeon, the rancid smell of death clear.

”I get you have you people to look after, but can you give me one second. Just one. I got hit by some sort of emotional wail or something.” Taking a moment to regain her bearings. ”I don’t know of any dead Clan members at least not for the ones I took with me, I feel like Bloody shit. Right I took them to my Grandpa’s place, in New York. I can move between doors in a certain way. It’s I dunno if you know what teleporting is. But it’s that. Like covering cities in seconds I guess, for what take months. Aside from a group of what five they said, everyone else that came with me is here. The five are off exploring the old house, told them I’d swing by for them in the morning. Just ask the rest. It seems like you all need to talk amongst yourselves already.”

Carrie held a hand in front of Eva, standing from her hug with Berry, “Chief, this was out of necessity in order to safely live here, as you can probably see I have quite a few animals. They know to treat everyone with respect now instead of seeing your people as food. Sun-Heart has been putting the security of everyone first and foremost, give her a break.”

Carrie shuffled off toward the dead bird, feeling dark energy pour off of it seeping into the floorboards. “First though before anything else I’ve gotta protect my home.” She opened the kitchen window peering at the buildings aside her and the back alley below. They were right, reanimated dead animals watched her apartment.

“Like hell I’m going to let some necromancer’s pets into my home.” Brow furrowed she quickly went straight for her bedroom, a collection of large pieces of quartz laid across shelves and in the corner of her room was quite possibly the neatest thing about the untidy room. The Altar draped in purple silk, animal bone and teeth. A small bronze mirror cradled in it’s center. A blackberry wreath laid on the table half done.

She plucked what small stones she had, freed sage from it’s bundle, stopping at the hanging herbs above her window - dried and ready to be used. Glancing down her ivy plant growing happily in the receding summer sunlight alongside her little potted rowan scrub waiting to be transferred to her yard. The herbs and plants were gifts from Nathaniel Croll.

Running back with her arms full she laid them across the kitchen island. Then ran back into her bedroom with sheers. She clipped a generous length of ivy, then a small sturdy branch of rowan, whispering her thanks.

Carefully with well practiced hands she weaved the ivy through the wreath, the bright green leaves mixed with the wood of the blackberry tree branches as well as complementing the berries themselves. Finally tying the branch of rowan to the top of the wreath with the remaining ivy. “Let’s see the bastard try to get past this.”

She carefully spritzed it with water then went straight for her front door. A hook already in place for past wreaths, she carefully placed it. Affectionately running her knuckles across the soft leaves of ivy. She closed the door and felt safer.

She came back to her other tools, brightfully noting, “When it doubt, sage it out!”

Lighting the end of the sage bundle on fire, she let it burn a little before blowing away the flames fanning the smoke. “Pendragon if you could help me, grab the salt in the cupboard and draw a ring around the dead pidgeon. I will smudge the entrances. The animals will help to drive away the dead, armed with protections of their own.”

With a nod Eva went to find the salt in the kitchen taking a bit long as she had to look through quite a few cupboards before she returned with it, and assuming she actually meant a circle of salt and not draw a ring in a pile she encircled the dead bird. ”So, what does this actually do? I’ve been watching that Supernatural show and so far there’s nothing on dead birds. It’s also a TV show, so.” As a sheathed sword appeared to her side as she sat it against the wall. ”Just in case I need this.”

Berry stared at the Chief, who was conversing in low tones and gesticulating wildly with the warriors who had come in with him. The rest of the Clan sat around them, forming a semicircle and watching. The siren shuffled closer and let Sunheart off of her shoulder, then moved over to watch the two women administer to the cursed carcass in the entryway. Behind her, the conversation got more heated as Sunheart joined in.

”What are you pouring the salt for? I do not think it will taste very good no matter how much you season it.” Despite her cheerful query, there was a definite downcast to Berenice’s features. She looked more like a scolded child trying to infiltrate back into a conversation than her normal self, and was obviously trying to cheer herself and everyone else up. Shockingly, she had even made a joke, unintentional as it was. Even so, she glanced back at the windows, adding, ”Should we not deal with the ones outside, too?”

Carrie nodded distractedly then took a double take at Berry, softening she replied, “It’s to purify the bad spirits away. We are freeing the animal of it’s necromancy chains. The dogs and cats will work together to remove the others and Oscar will take care of any birds. If not at the very least chase them off, don’t worry Berry we can protect my nest from Sebastian’s spies.”

One by one each of the animals lined up being outfitted with small charms to protect them from any lingering energy about the undead spies. Their strong bond and connections with Carrie ensured that regardless.

The conversation on the countertop broke up suddenly, Sunheart and a few of the warrior types lining up along the ledge overlooking the process. Sunheart herself was staring, while the rest checked their tiny weapons, looking grim. ”You have accepted us into your home with no qualms at all, Witch,” Sunheart said, loud enough she could be heard. There was no inflection on the word ‘witch’, merely a title. ”Now it needs defending. We will aid you in this.” Her tone was clear that she would brook no argument on the matter, and wordlessly, each of the warriors threw tiny ropes down from the counter, affixed to a coffee mug behind them. They lowered themselves down, then each took places a safe distance from one of the animals being geared up. Sunheart herself took a place in front of Oscar, eyeing him warily. ”If you would be so good as to make sure they take no offense to our presence, it would help.”

Carrie blinked, “Oh! Of course, thank you.”

“Let the dogs and cats sniff you out first before climbing aboard, Oscar.” Carrie said sternly turning her attention to the raven. “Be careful you hear me? Knock them out and let the others take care of them.”

Oscar quorked in response, Carrie nodded in understanding. Affectionately Oscar tugged at her sleeve. “All set, Sunheart. If you need to get their attention, call them by their name.”

Sunheart gave a salute, and the rest nodded grimly, faces stern. Most of them were checking their tiny weapons, which were mostly flint or broken glass or wood. A few, though, had already managed to supplement themselves with bits of razors or nails and paperclips. Sunheart herself had gotten a hold of a bow, made of animal bones and a length of springy wood, and had a sheaf of what looked like needles. They all gingerly approached the animals, made their introductions, and then clambered aboard their partners, with Sunheart taking the lead on Oscar, having had the most flight experience. She turned to Carrie with a fatalistic look and said, ”I will make sure they all come home alive.”