The family walked up in silence. What they felt could not be described in words or writing. An overflow of both negative and positive emotions flooded through them making them unsure of what it was they wanted to do.
No one approached them as they left. Never in their lives had they thought of this reassuring feeling that came with them not being approached by their own kin. However, that did not mean that someone wouldn't.
They heard steps approaching them. They were fast and heavy but they soon decreased to a steady walking pace until they stopped collectively. Azazel raised his head up in anger.
In the night, his eyes looked scarier than the darkness that was engulfing as the dim purple glow they gave off from the moonlight's reflection moved to locate their target. Once locked, their gaze grew even more threatening as they squinted at the man who stood before him.
Those eyes did not bother him one bit. He stood without any fear and even had the audacity to put his hands into his pockets. If Azazel did not know the mannerisms of his best friend since childhood, he would have assumed that he was a carefree and ignorant lost sheep that just happened to wonder into the lion's den knowingly. Moreover, his eyes, which had an icy glow to them would have made things worse.
Nevertheless, he gave of the scent of someone who was both angry and exhausted. For someone who rarely sweat, he had tiny bits of sweat running down his neck. He must have really searched the world for him to look like this. His eyes left his best friend and landed on his godson.
He was tempted to approach him but the growl from his older brother, Elma made him stop. Sighing deeply, he walked toward him instead and did the unexpected. He picked him up.
He purred but the twelve-year-old boy did not calm down without a fight. He struggled by clawing the man who didn't flinch in the slightest or throw him aside but instead, warmly tapped his head and endured it.
The tears he had held back all this time fell. His body slumped and the exhaustion and desperation. His eyes blurred and the man took this opportunity to secure the light boy on his back with the help of his friend.
He reached out his hand to his older brother, Huda, but he retracted not wanting to be touched. However, he was stopped in his tracks by his mother and he too, had his nerves forcefully calmed down.
The exhaustion he had been putting off till now took its toll on him. Due to his unique physique, Huda's feet instantly gave out but he landed on something solid, yet comforting.
Wanting more of it, he wrapped his hands around this warm scent. His animal instincts were something he was still struggling to control and his parents had made it clear more than once that he still had much to learn. Instinctively, his ears and tail popped out showing how distressed he was.
His parents watched this and they let out a sigh. Elma wanted to get down but the Beta carrying him did not let him. The weight he was carrying was nothing compared to the training he had gone through. His body unintentionally shivered as those memories crept into his mind. Nevertheless, he still carried the two brothers with much ease.
Their teenage daughter was no different as she to was in her father's arms. She did not resist but, the look on her face was unlike her. Her father placed his forehead on hers, to reassure her, before he gently kissed it.
Pulling her closer, he confirmed through a whisper that this was an accident, and it was neither hers, nor here siblings' fault. It took a little while but she accepted the facts before her.
Slowly but surely, they all succumbed to the stress they had just experienced. They fluttered their eyes and slept. It was not every day they had to run from point A to point B at full strength while searching for a specific scent while calling out mentally to the person.
For bodies that were still getting accustomed to their furry side, this was a bit too much. The three adults stood there silently and looked forward.
They remembered taking in these people and treating them as family because they had nowhere else to go. Who knew they were the type of people who would forget the hand that fed and bite the master.
Azazel was not one to let things go, especially since he had trusted them with the most precious thing to him, his family. No power, no money, no jewels, were worth the lives of is precious children, wife and mate.
His friend knew of this and this time, he was not going to let him advise him against it. In his heart, he silently wished that he would also get a part in the action. Letting out a sigh, he adjusted the two boys and took a step forward.
His mind was a little lost in thought but he did not miss the fact that he was the only one who was walking ahead. He turned and looked back.
"Better strike the iron while it's still hot." He said.
Their eyes glowed in what could best be described as madness. The motivation to head up was now ignited to the point where hell flames would be insignificant compared to the flames in their hearts. The smile on Azazel's face tempted the devil into making a deal with him. It was one only his enemies would see and one that would haunt them in the underworld.
"Like old times…"
His best friend's eyes widened. It had been fifteen years since he last said those words. Standing up straight, he felt his heart pounding with excitement. He looked at is friend and another wicked smile spread across his face. The devil, wherever he was, should have definitely adopted these two as his sons or something.
"Let's wreak havoc."
Lilith, who was already used to this stood there expressionless. She did not dare disturb the two devils who chuckled darkly, in their own little world. She too was tempted to follow in their lead but she had her own way of doing things.
She could not wait to see the looks on their faces as they begged for mercy. The mere thought of their screams made her smile without realizing it. The glint in her eyes put theirs to shame and without her knowledge she chuckled too.
When she looked up, her husband had distanced himself from her. Zach, Azazel's best friend, had sparkles in his eyes. Neither of them had seen her chuckle this darkly before. Knowing she had been exposed, she cleared her throat and walked to where Zach was.
She then turned back to her husband who was still taken aback by what he had just seen. In his thoughts, he was glad that the woman before him was his. He proudly smirked and walked up to the two. The three of them then walked together after their little episode.
When they got to the clearing making the village territory, they decided to look at the activities of the people they housed. To their surprise, they noticed that only a few of the people they housed actually looked for their son. One by one, they marked their faces, and made a silent decision not to harm their families too much.
Emerging from the trees, they walked slowly. Those who had been searching ran to them as soon as they spotted them, catching the eye of the rest. Those who got to them tried holding back on their concerns for their son but failed terribly.
Moreover, when they remembered where they had come from, they were filled with undeniable guilt. In silence, they waited for the rest of them as that was what their leader looked to want. When all of them were assembled, Azazel eyed them and they fell silent.
What came next was something that would be etched in their memory for a lifetime. Their alpha, who had protected them from other clans called them one by one. Those whose names had been called out and their families stood aside, those who weren't were asked a few questions. Depending on their answer, they were either killed on the spot or spared for later punishment.
They saw a side of their leaders they never wanted to see again. It reminded them of the reason as to why no other clans dared to come attack the three of them. The Arawn's. Their name was known in the furry world. The meaning; King of the hunt and underworld.
Those whose names were not called out and survived the vetting were imprisoned. And one by one, the validity of their loyalty was vetted as well. By the time their Alpha, his mate, their Luna and beta were done, only half were left.
The unfortunate half were exiled. The rest were accepted back with the mere warning of one wrong move and they too would meet the same fate. After the incident, the members of their kin were inducted into the ways of the Arawn's.
That night was later said to be the mark of their beginning and their new age.