Viktor walked up the snow covered hill near his home. He could see smoke coming from the smokestack that stuck out of the roof which told him that his mother had gotten up and had gotten the fire stoked. He looked forward to warming his fur by the fire and to cooking some of the fresh kill that he had slung over his shoulders. At times he was grateful for his ability to change into a weretiger. Times like this, where the temperatures made it difficult for normal humans to survive. To him the cold wasn't as bitter and the fur that his beast form gave him kept him mostly comfortable, at times he did get cold after too long in it.
As he topped the hill he was met with a sight that seemed out of place. The door to his and his mothers shack laid on the ground a few feet away. His demeanor soured instantly and the fur on his neck stood as he dropped the deer. It landed with a soft crunch in the thick snow. In a moment he was down the hill and at the doorway looking in. He smelled the air for a moment trying to detect the scent of any enemy that may lurk inside the shack. There was a faint smell of something beastly but he could not place it. It had been gone for a good bit now and the smell was fading away.
Viktors heart raced as he called out for his mother. "Mama!" His voice, deep and guttural in his beast form. He stepped into the shack and looked frantically around searching for clues as to what had happened. Had it been a wild bear or a tiger? He had been sure to spread his scent around the area to make sure that none would enter. Also the door had been flung outward. A tiger or bear would have pushed the door down and into the shack. On the door frame there were deep gouges that looked like they had been made by an animal bigger than he had seen before.
Inside the shack was a mess. Bedding and other household items had been strewn all over the floor. He stepped in and looked around at the walls taking in the all of the claw marks and signs of struggle that littered the shack. In his mind he could see what had happened. Something had gotten in and his mother had done her best to defend herself against it. He figured that it had been another werebeast by all of the damage and the door being flung.
Viktor could feel his anger growing. Stepping out of the shack he searched for anything that would indicate where his mother had gone. That's when he saw two pieces of paper stuck to a pine. He dashed over to the tree and ripped them from it. One was a flier that stated there was to be a Tournament of Beasts in Bucharest. All werebeasts were invited to participate in the event. A purse of one hundred thousand US dollars was being offered as a prize. The second paper stated this:
Viktor Yegorov, I have your mother. It would be in her best interest that you attend the Tournament in Bucharest in one weeks time. If you tarry or do not show up then I will kill her.
Sincerely The White Bear
Viktor roared, his anger boiling over. He did not know who the White Bear was but he intended on making him pay. Calming himself a bit he turned to the shack and began to gather up supplies for his trip. He also returned to the deer and quickly quartering it up he stowed it away under the shack near some ice. Hopefully it would keep until he got back as hunting in winter was difficult. With a pack of food ready and himself cleaned up he grabbed the supplies and slung them over his back. All the while he had stayed in his beast form and would do so until he got closer to people. Only then would he change back into his human form. As he left the shack and over to the door he picked it up which caused him to recall a memory of his mother shouting at him to shut the door. Smiling he said. "Can't shut the door if it's in the yard."
He placed it back against the doorway to keep the animals out and started on his way to Bucharest.
X X X
Sergei stood under a tree in the English countryside eating the heart that he had pulled from that other werewolf. It had started to grow cold but still tasted sweet to him. His ears moved in opposing directions as he feasted, listening for any sounds that might indicate he was being watched or threatened. To his mild surprise he heard a twig snap not too far from him in a thicket of trees. It seemed that he had an audience. Dropping what was left of the heart and licking his chops he dashed toward the sound and was soon upon the cause of it. The werefox barely had time to run before Sergei had his blood soaked right hand around its neck. The werefoxes or otherwise known as cainima's were a smaller breed of lycans. They weren't as strong as a werewolf and oftentimes liked to stick to outlying areas of civilization feeding mostly on livestock but a select few would find benefactors. Benefactors that would use them as spies as most of them were masters of not being detected even by other werebeasts. This one however seemed to not be as practiced.
Sergei pinned the werefox against a tree, growling a threat. The Werefox put its hands up to show that it didn't mean any harm. "Why are you following me?" Sergei growled out. Speech was possible but hard at times when in beast form. The werefox tried to reply but all that came out were gargled noises and gasps for air. Sergei released his grip and let the werefox drop to the ground. The creature coughed and choked for a few moments before changing its form back into a human. The trousers that he had been wearing fell to the ground, now stretched and tattered. As the man stood he stammered back into the tree he had been held against a minute ago. He stood straight and tall or as tall as his five foot seven body would allow. Seemingly confident of himself even though he was nude and faced The Black Dog.
Clearing his throat he answered Sergei. " I am known as Dorian the Gray. I have followed you at the behest of my master The White Bear. Otherwise known as Adrean Konig."
Sergei stared at him. The name's not ringing a bell. "Never Heard of." He replied.
Dorian was not surprised. His master was just now making his name known to the world and this common rabble not knowing of him was understandable. "I see." Dorian said. " Well then now that you have, I will tell you that he has instructed me to find you. He has heard of your exploits from the great war and wishes to employ them. He can pay you very well." Dorian tempted. He could see the doubt coming over the Werewolf's face. Even in beast form it was hard to hide emotions at times. Dorian bent down to his trousers that littered the ground and pulled an invitation from a pocket handing it to the black werewolf. Sergei stared at the paper for a moment then took it.
He looked at it for a bit before saying. "How am I supposed to get there?"
Dorian smirked. "With this." He answered and produced a train ticket from a town in France to Bucharest in Romania. "You have one week to get to this location." He told him and pointed at the paper. "If you do not make it there in that time then the offer will be void and we both know that you could use the money."
Sergei looked back at the paper then at Dorian. His bright yellow eyes seemingly attempting to burn a hole through the man. Dorian stared back. Unfazed by the werewolfs attempt at intimidation. "One more thing he said to Sergei. "There will be a surprise when you arrive. Something that you aren't expecting."
Sergei growled. He hated surprises.