Redemption or Utter Damnation

[Fenris Fenrir]

ooc: invite only

bic: Long had the silver-grey lycan ran through the dense brush of the Forest; making his way to the place that he called home. The place where he was visited by the one from the stars. There he knew that he was safe from anything that would try to affect his mind; there trust could not be shattered nor could lies be whispered there. As he neared the clearing; the lycan slowed down and walked over to a nearby tree, and set the pup down that he had carried in his mouth.

As Fenris walked over to another tree; his body transformed into that of a human's once more. Yet the man was not the imposing figure that had threatened to snap the necks of two pups; he seemed as weary and as ancient as the Forest itself (despite having only lived there for a short time). The man crumbled to the ground in a crash and lay there panting; his hands, ankles, and throat were set aflame by the pain that they were experiencing and from the blood loss. Such wounds could heal over time; but the one that would not heal quickly was a newly kindled hatred. One only reserved for the Tunnels or those that associated themselves with them.

Fenris Fenrir had been beaten by Xavier and left to roll in his agony; Kage had tried to kill him after Xavier swore that there would be no violence; Xavier had betrayed him and now that one sliver of trust was broken. But the tendrils of that fragment could be sewn together and possible even repaired completely, but that was all up to the lycan that he brought with him.

His mother; the one that made him what he was. Even though he was alive long before she was born; she had turned him on that fateful day in the Tunnels and now Fenris Fenrir appeared to be a mindless beast. But like all things; Fenrir had more than one facet that could have been looked upon but he hid them from those around him. It was through his mother that those of the Tunnels would gain redemption or damnation; they would suffer, not Fenris.

Leaning his back against the tree that he sat near; the now-naked Fenris stared dolefully at the ground and a single thought shattered the silence.

'What is your name mother?'

[† Cealla †]

This was probably the first time that Cealla had ever truely been afraid.

With the exception of the vampire attack, it was all just a facade. There was bravery on the outside while the fear was hidden deep, giving way to a seemingly cocky and careless adittude. But now... now she was really afraid. The man that she had turned had turned on her. He had threatened to kill her in front of her own family and had left her powerless. Her front paw ached with a fury she hadn't known existed as he placed her down, leaving her to decide what to do. She could make a run for it and try to find her way back to Xavier. Or she could withhold the pact that her grandfather had made with this... thing, and simply try to survive the six days.

But he was so unpredictable. How did she know that he wasn't just going to kill her right now? He could do that, after all. It suprised her a slight bit, the fact that he was so powerful. They said that the pup was only as strong as the mother, and Cealla herself wasn't particularly strong. Then again, he had been a full grown man when he was bitten. Perhaps that contributed to his unusual strength, he certainly didn't seem to have been a weak human man.

She watched as he made his transformation and then she slowly followed, being careful to shield himself from his eyes. Having a sense of modesty, she found a few scraps of fabric upon the ground (obviously from a deceased student) and wrapped them around all the places that needed covering. Timidly, she came and sat down a few feet away from him. The brave lycaness of before was gone- what remained was a suspicious child.

"My name is Cealla." She replied, turning her head away so as not to stare at him while he was in such a state. "And I'm suprised you haven't heard my name before, considering that I was the one who turned you into such a horrid monster."

[Fenris Fenrir]

"Cealla", murmured Fenris Fenrir to himself, "What a beautiful name." He had yet to raise his weary head; that engagement had taken a greater toll on him than he had first thought. Gingerly touching his broken nose, blood burst down onto his naked chest and dyed it a crimson red; vibrant and disturbing in many respects. Now that he had the pup that he wanted out of the two, how was he going to use her? An infinity of thoughts want through his mind; but none of them seemed fit. Silently growling in frustration, Fenris rose and walked behind the relative privacy of a tree and returned minutes later wearing a tattered outfit of a former meal.

Focusing his eyes on his mother; Fenris stared at her and tried to find any trait that might connect the two. Their fur was a different color when in wolven form and their personalities greatly differed from what he witnessed. He was an uncontrollable beast when aroused and all that he wanted was his forest to be his; not an outsider's. His mother apparently had strong attachments to the outside world, assuming that she was born there, and would not understand him. And yet it was always said that only a mother can understand her children best.

Walking over to his mother, Fenris crouched down next to her and in an almost owlish way gazed at her. It was then that his left hand slowly rose from it's resting place and started to gently caress the cheek of his mother; the only person in the world might possibly have a chance in changing his view on those of the Tunnels. "Cealla...", said Fenris again in a soft voice, "Such a beautiful name; it just seems to roll off the tongue. But now for a question my mother; why is it that you despise your child? Before you spoke harshly of me and now you cringe when I am near. Do you think that I would harm what made me? For I would never do such a thing. Now tell me; why?"

[† Cealla †]

As soon as he disappeared into the tree, the thought of fleeing once again burst into her mind. However, there was always the problem that she didn't quite know where she was, which would likely only lead to her getting caught and killed by another forest lycan or another creature. But... she still didn't know if that's what this man was going to do to her. He had threatened to, after all. And anyone who makes such threats certainly cannot be taken lightly. But if Xavier trusted him, then shouldn't she do the same? No... no, she shouldn't. Trust had to be earned, not forced.

Her eyes drifted away once again as he emerged, now fully dressed. She could feel the way he looked at her, the seeming curiosity in his eyes as he looked upon the one who had given him his lycan life. How could she be a mother? She had only just finished mourning the death of her own mother, being barely a pup of four months of age. Biting him would be something that would stay with her for her entire life- there was no taking back such a drastic step.

Cringing slightly as he touched her, she tightened every muscle in her body to keep from quivering like a leaf. There was fear, yes, but there was also courage. She could survive this. And after these few days, she would make certain that she never set foot in the forest again. Her wandering urge could definitly be satisfied elsewhere- why continue to go where you aren't welcome? That was one thing she wondered about Xavier and Kage- they still continued to enter the forest even after being beaten numerous times. And now with this man that she had bitten here, times seemed to be even more dangerous.

"You ask me why I cringe?" She spat, almost angrily. "I cringe because you threatened to kill me, and that is no idle threat. And if you just expect me to trust you because of your sweet words and compliments, then you'll have to find a new technique."

She considered telling him that she would never be his mother, but figured that would only invoke his rage. And the one thing she didn't want to come to pass was Xavier returning only to find her corpse, bloodied and beaten by an undefeatable foe.

[Fenris Fenrir]

A small smile creased Fenris' face when he heard Cealla's reply; he would have expected nothing less from the being that had given life to him. And now; now he had found the one trait that they shared in common. Their high resolve. It seemed that she would never care for her son and in turn the son would wreck as much havoc on the Tunnels after what the tormentors did to him. Or...he could do something far worse. He could keep his mother here until she cared for him; even if it was in the smallest way.

That was what this crazed lycan needed; someone to care for him. None did and it was most likely that none ever would but if anyone were to care for him in the slightest; then his mother would be the one most capable of it. "I know that fair words can not win fair reply, but would you rather me deal harshly with you and harm you? I would think not; and as your son I would not willingly kill you. Words...they are as flowing as the breeze and as false as lies; for it is from words that lies take their life.", said Fenris as he stood up and moved away from Cealla.

Sighing; he gazed off into the woods; in the direction of the Tunnels and wondered how those that had seen Cealla taken would cope to this. How they would respond when he returned her. Surely the black-haired one would try to kill him again and if that was the case then one of them would die and it would not be Fenris Fenrir. Now the green-haired one....he was another story. Despite how he had been cruel in the beginning, he said that he pitied Fenris and pity was a form of caring. Perhaps....no; it could never be that way.

He had been thrust forth from the Tunnels in his time of pain and agony; now they all would suffer what they did to him. But as for his mother...perhaps there was a different fate in store for her. "You could stay here if you wanted to", said Fenris in a quiet voice; not looking at her, "What does the Tunnels have that the Forest doesn't? Is it not from the Forest where those of the Tunnels gain most of their food? Is not the Forest such a gem compared to the dark, dank caverns where you make your home? All that is there is your family; yet in front of you stands one your family whether you accept it or not. Perhaps...you could teach me. Teach me mother."

[† Cealla †]

Try to understand there's an old mistake
that fools will make and,
I'm the king of them
Pushing everything that's good away.

She watched the smile flit across his face and wanted to slap him- did he find her funny? Because she certainly didn't find this situation funny, not in the least. Why was it always her who managed to find her way into such situations? If she had just killed him when he had come into the Tunnels, perhaps none of this would have ever happened. She would still be safe, with her family, back in her home. But there was something in her that wouldn't let her kill him, something making her hold back.

"I would rather not be harmed at all." She said simply, thinking of her sister and how much she missed her. "I want to go home. And I want to go home alive, thank you. Alive and unharmed, as you promised my grandfather. Would you dishonor that promise if I just decided to anger you?"

She watched as he seemed to move a bit away from her and think, so she allowed her own mind to drift as well. What would her family be doing in her abscense? Did they really miss her? Maybe Xavier and 'Lissa and Rayne did, but she was not so sure about her father. He had been gone for so long and when he returned, he had almost gotten her killed. Would they really mind if she never came back?

And then he offered. Offered to allow her to stay here with him, live as a pair. Struggling, she thought about it for a few moments while glancing around. The smell of earth was fresh in the air while various animals chattered to each other- the forest felt so wild and free to her compared to the Tunnels. Here she could run and play to her heart's content, but there would always be something missing.

"No... I can't stay." She said with a sigh. "I would be missing my family, most of all my sister. They are something I cannot bear to part with. As for teaching you, I cannot say there is much for me to teach. Can you not tell that I am only a pup, of a few months of age? Even you can toss me about like a rag doll."

[† Alissa †]

It hadn't taken Alissa long to track down her twin and the man who had taken her away. Luckily, her sense of smell had developed a lot since birth, and her nose was the only way in which she had bene able to track them down. It seemed like the man's footprints had faded as he ran forwards.

Though as she reached the clearing where the two stood, the man back in his human form and Cealla on the ground talking to him, Alissa had no idea what she was going to do. It seemed as though his trust in any of the tunnel lycans had disappeared thank to her father, but she had to try and convince him that they weren't all bad, and that the episode further back in the forest was simply a one off.

However making her point was not going to be easy.

Taking a deep breath, the small brown wolf-pup stepped into the clearing slowly, waiting for one or the other to notice her presence while she gathered her thoughts. Hopefully by the time she was spotted, some sort of plan would have made itself clear in her mind. Hopefully...

[Fenris Fenrir]

So that was her decision; she wanted more of her family to be here. And more would have come; had not the black-haired one attacked him and caused him to drop the second pup. So that as Cealla's sister. Perhaps she would be of like mind and would she not willingly stay in the Forest if she had her sister was well. And what if she didn't want to come into the Forest? Then Fenris would have to give up Cealla in six days time and the chances of such a meeting with her were little to none. Either way; it seemed that Fenris had lost. If only he had both of the pups with him then things would be different. It was in the youth that ran his hope and yet when they cringed at seeing Fenris; he knew that he must look damned.

But now; something was amiss in the clearing and Fenris' eyes slowly shifted to where the sound came from. As if the Black Wolf from the stars had answered his thoughts; there before him stood the second pup. So it seemed that Cealla and her sister might stay here after all...if only he could convince them.

Still keeping eye contact on the newly arrived pup; Fenris said in a low voice, "It looks like your wish has been granted Mother; there stands your sister. Now where is it that you stand? You said that you would miss your family, most of all your sister; but now that she has willingly entered the Forest; I cannot allow her to exit freely. And my oath does not hold me to her; only to you. In six days you will be returned to the Tunnels. But your sister....she shall remain here with me. Unless you change your mind; unless you stay here with me and your sister. Then all would be well; if not; you will be returned and your sister shall stay with me. Does the prospect of returning to the Tunnels sound so sweet now that I will have the one thing that you wanted to return to the most?"

[† Cealla †]

Her eyes almost instantly lit up when Alissa entered the clearing- she had so much been wanting to see her sister again. However, then they instantly darkened. The pup was in grave danger now that she had followed Cealla here, for Fenris was held by no oath not to harm her. Quickly she tried to come up with a plan, however her "son" had already spotted the little brown pup. It would be useless to try and talk him out of letting her go- he obviously wasn't much of a talker. There had to be something in it for him.... so, perhaps she could bargain with him. That might be the best way. But what kind of sacrifice might that demand?

There was nothing that she still had to hold onto in the Tunnels, spare the love of her grandfather and sister. Besides the fact that she had been born there and had always believed that she would die there, nothing in particular made her want to return. Did she always want to be haunted by memories of the vampire attack; of biting Fenris, of the lonliness and pain? Here she could start anew, begin a new life the way she wanted to live. There would be risks... but could she do it?

"First, you will not harm Alissa." She replied firmly, not making a move to go to her sister out of fear that he might suddenly attack. "That is one thing I demand. Second, you cannot make me do anything. You cannot kill me, that much I feel and know. If you lay one finger on her, I shall leave here and won't ever return. The only thing that keeps me here now is my grandfather's promise."

She paused for a lack of thoughts and words. He wanted her to stay, however she was still unsure. There was so much she had in the Tunnels, so much she was set to inherit. She was one of the few out of her generation who had lived when so many had died; wasn't that a gift in itself? The one thing she could never have in the Forest would be a heritage and the knowledge that she knew exactly where she came from and exactly where she was going to.

"Let her go in six days' time." She said, a bit of a defeated sigh in her voice. "I shall stay for as long as you like, or I will come and go from Forest to Tunnels as I please. If you will grant me safe passage, then I will promise to come, to 'teach' you." The words came out almost grudingly, but there was no other choice left. He had her backed up into a corner, faced with a problem that she simply couldn't escape from.

[Fenris Fenrir]

Determination; that was another trait that Fenris and Cealla shared. Fenris was determined to have at least his mother stay with him in the Forest and she was equally determined to have no harm fall upon her sister. So many choices ran through the mind of Fenris as he stared at both of the pups; he could find some means of keeping them here for eternity, but then the whole strength of the Tunnels might be sent after him in order to regain their precious childern. He could honor the oath that he took and do exactly as he said he would; return the pups in six days.

But had not Xavier broken his part of the oath with the sudden attack by one of the Tunnels? So why did Fenris Fenrir have to hold to an oath that was already broken and seemingly fruitless; it only was fruitful in the fact that both of the pups were now in his grasp. He could easily force them to accept the fact that he would make them stay here; he would fight off the entire Tunnels if need be to have these pups. And why were these pups so important to Fenrir in the first place? Could he not find something else to pacify his tormented mind; yet nothing seemed to do such a thing.

Nothing could calm Fenris Fenrir. Love made him passionate and lustful; peace made him long for blood and gore; tranquilty...that had some effect on the lycan. He could roam the Forest and have no care in the world and then he would be calm, but if he saw one thing that showed evidence of tampering; he would lose control and go beserk. But it was when Fenris saw childern of his own kind did he feel calm and at peace. And with a crazed and tormented mind as his; a calm moment or two was something that he craved for, almost above his cravings of flesh and blood. Yet on his own, Fenris Fenrir seldom found peace.

That is why he needed the pups. They were the key; but if the key fell from the lock; the lock would rust over in time and never open again. The same thing would happen to Fenris; if he could find a way to calm himself; he would just an unimaginable terror; filled with hatred, malice, and wrath. Nothing would be spared from Fenrir's rage save the Forest; but he had the feeling that if that happened to much; it would be the death of him. So that is what the pups needed to teach him; to calm himself least he become more unpredictable than he already was. And if they failed in their teachings; there would probably none that could.

With a resigned sigh; Fenris said, "So be it Cealla; your sister will remained unharmed as shall you. You both will stay here for six days as originally planned, but once I take you back to the Tunnels; swear that you will come back to the Forest from time to time. As much as it doesn't look it; I need you Mother; both of you. So if you have any pity for an abomination such as I; I ask that you swear to return in time. Swear; and you may have done more good than any talking could have possibly done."

[† Cealla †]

Her mind still couldn't come to grasp with the reasoning behind the man's choice. She could not see why he desired her and her sister so much, spare to cause pain to the rest of the Tunnels. Her mind flew between doubt and hope, all the while wondering if he really was a man of his word. After all, her father had foolishly broken the promise between the two clans; he had attacked Fenris after Xavier promised peace. So did that mean that he was bound by nothing? There was so much uncertainty, but she had no choice but to trust him. She was forced to, forced to have faith in a total stranger. And she did so very unwillingly.

Growling low with annoyance, she idliy flexed her fingers and thought about how strong she would be when she was older. Nobody would tell her what to do then. She would be her own person and could do as she pleased, without being able to be tossed around and traded so casually. She was sure that Sealla wouldn't have gone along with such a comprimise. No, her namesake would have been strong. She would have told Fenris to scram, that much was sure. Oh, if only Cealla had the strength to do that. But she lacked it. She had grown fast, but still knew that she was far from being full-grown. That would only come in time.

Casting a long glance around the forest for any other creatures, she still didn't feel safe. The forest would never feel like home to her. The Tunnels felt like such a safe and warm place, despite the fact that it was underground. And even though it had so many bad memories to go along with it... it was still home. She sometimes had doubts about that, but right now she was certain of one thing- she wanted to go back to that home.

Sure, she hadn't exactly been kind to the residents of the Tunnels as of late. All the newcomers had forced her into a state of hostility and defensivness, like a shell that couldn't be cracked. Maybe she had been too hard on Xavier. Once she returned, perhaps she should try being nicer to the rest of the pack.

"I swear it." She replied, lowering her head and then changing back into wolf form. Her skin melted away and gave way to a pelt of black fur and a furry tail, which she quickly curled around her body as she sat down again.

[† Alissa †]

Alissa had been silent through the whole exchange of words, through the compromise that had been made, knowing that her input would more than likely not be welcomed by either party. Cealla sounded as though she knew what she was doing, and yet there was one part that confused the brown pup more than anything else.

Why is he calling her mother? 'Lissa asked herself, tilting her small head to one side as the word sounded in the clearing once more. She's younger than him. He's strange, she concluded, looking over as Cealla sat down on the forest floor, looking more defeated than the younger Lycan had ever seen before.

"It'll be okay," Alissa tried to comfort her sister, "You'll see. But are you okay?" the brunette lycan asked, continuing to ignore the strange man for now. She would deal with him later on.

ooc: Sorry for delay and shortness, guys!

[Fenris Fenrir]

So then; it was done. The pact of Fenris Fenrir and Cealla of the Tunnels was made and with a grin, Fenrir turned into the mighty wolf that he was and howled up to the Heavens; letting all know of this pact. And whoever violated this pack would be damned to the wrath of Fenris. And if Fenris broke the pact; his own guilt would destroy him. But now the time was now longer about vengence and omens of wrath; now was a time to look to the needs of his charges.

Well, my mother and aunt; since you are staying here for a time; what might I do for you? Do you wish to wander among the trees of the Forest? Do you wish to bath in the streams and relax in the Sun? And after you have whatever you desire that is within my power; then you can teach me. Teach me what it means to be...normal. Teach me so that I can control myself. Teach me Mother.

ooc: Sorry for the shortness><

[† Cealla †]

Who says you can't go home,
There's only one place that called me one of their own..

Her eyes flicked to Alissa as the pup actually spoke, not wanting to defy Fenris as well. She managed to put a small smile upon her wolfy maw, not wanting her little sister to be sad upon her behalf. After all, she couldn't fix this mess, but she could keep it from getting worse. She didn't want Alissa to be dragged into this, since it had been her mistake. Fenris has been her mistake. And it was a mistake that she would live up to, it would be one that she was willing to fix. But that would involve either killing him or causing him to change for the better- both of which she didn't particularly feel like doing. But she was bound now to visit him.

He continued to call him mother. Why did he do that? Why could he not leave her alone? That was a simple question for her to answer. There was nowhere for her to run from him; the pact bound her to this place. But there was no other choice. Surely her family would know that much would be true. Her personality was too headstrong to just be defeated so easily.

She had no reason to dislike Fenris, despite the fact that he had tried to kill her. Other than that, if anything, this whole fiasco was her fault. But, as soon as he gave her reason to hate him, a really good reason, she would take it and never forget it. Not for the rest of her life. Sighing, she turned to 'Lissa and gently nuzzled her in a friendly way. Though she knew that her sister's appearence would make things much harder, it was something that they could get through.

'Don't call me mother' She grumbled mentally, flicking her tail around and then slowly standing up again. 'Call me Cealla. Like everyone else does. As for what I would desire, I merely seek a bath in these streams that you speak of. And, if you would consent, I will take it alone.'

There was a small flicker of defiance in her eyes that was gone as quickly as it appeared- she was unsure exactly what she was going to do. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe she was just satisfying her need to feel rebellious, like she was trying to change a situation that showed no room for improvement.