~~~~~~~ At the outskirts of Uranus ~~~~~~
Their wails were reduced to tiny whimpers as the hostages were being dragged roughly. Each of them had a chain bound around their wrist, ranging from the shortest to the tallest. The werewolves had succeeded in taking fourteen of their kind hostage alongside many of their livestock. A few yards ahead, they were met with mist. The mist partially blurred the dried-up trees and grasses. A crash was heard and they all halted in their steps. Turning back they noticed that two of the hostages collapsed from exhaustion. Frowning a werewolf inched forward and walked through them and kicked them both
"Get up you bastards! You'll slow us down" he struck them hard simultaneously
"Stop please", a lady's voice was heard. He halted in his next move and looked up at her face. She wore a hazy look, and with the help of her blood her hair was plastered on her face he could tell she was badly injured, he might just as well finish her off. He moved towards her and picked her up effortlessly.
"Just who in the bloody hell are you to give me any command huh? He asked her as he began trailing a sharp fingernail across her forehead, forcing it deeper as her blood began washing her face. You all are demonic bastards and if I have my way I'll terminate your kind" he raged as he continued his torture
"That's enough! Put her down this instance" Gabriella commanded
"Hmm, he scoffed, how dare you brat!" He fixed a stern gaze on her, aside from the vampires, what he hated the most was being disrespected in front of his junior warriors. To him, it displayed some sort of weakness
"Put her down I said!" Gabriella repeated once more, not moved by his fierce gaze
"Look! I don't take orders from anyone around here, talkless of you, so don't dare bark orders at me or else I'll...." He thighed his grip on the lady's throat making her gasp for breath as her eyes became wider
"That's enough! A light but firm voice was heard from the back of the line, release her at once!" Mortica's voice became clearer as she approached them.
"Or else?..." He replied as a sick smile played on his face
Mortica glared at him, Immediately regretting her decision of making him the leader of the warriors after murdering the former one. No argument was needed he was a skilled and powerful werewolf, trained by the best warriors. He had survived many wars. Hell, he even eliminated the highest number of vampires tonight, but his arrogance and pride overshadowed anyone from respecting him. Aside from all those flaws he was a loyal werewolf, she could easily put her trust in him without a second thought.
"You want me to spell it out for you?" She cocked her eyebrows and her face hardened
"Why do you even care this much about them huh? They're fucking vampires, they are our enemies" he stressed as he plunged a claw into the lady's neck and she began to cough
"Gillard release her now!" Mortica's voice became firmer as she was visibly annoyed
Letting out a long frustrating sigh, hesitating for a few seconds, he released his grip on the lady. She dropped down letting a loud cough, as she began taking in air greedily.
"Happy now?" Gillard looked from the vampire's face to Mortica's
Ignoring him, Mortica walked over to the vampire and squatted. And immediately, as her body could move she retrieved quickly from Mortica. Her face wore a frightened look.
[Poor devil] Mortica thought. Then flashing her a smile with no emotions, "can you walk?" She asked her
"Huh?" the vampire looked at her nervously
"How tired you must be, Mortica spoke calmly, what is your name?" She asked her
Gabriella stared at her mother, curiosity was written all over her face, not quite sure she misheard her. Does any of their name matter? They were taking them all as slaves.
"Elsie" she replied calmly
"Good Elsie, can you walk?" She repeated her question
"Ermm...I...I can, she stammered as she looked up her gaze met Gillard's she averted them immediately, I can walk"
"Good, very good, Mortica repeated as she rose back up as her eyes fell on the other vampire lying weakly on the floor, help them to their feet, she ordered, if you take a closer look you'll discover we're in sight now, we can't have any further delay, we must move out now!" She ordered as she began heading towards their home...
~~~~~~ inside the werewolves den ~~~~
Turning his hand over, he examined the dried-up blood on his wrist. His claws were bitten down low. they could no longer be called claws but fingernails. His gaze swept the entire cave, ears standing up on high alert for even the tiniest sound. Even the squeak from a mouse could make his day.
Cassius stared dizzily into space as he fell on his back to the hard dusty ground. It had become real, so very real to him. He regretted ever not joining his family and clan members to breach Jupiter. The everyday silence was nearly driving him crazy. The last voice he heard was that from the last animal, he killed for dinner days ago. While the only sound that reached him now through the heat from the hot, hard soil was the long, grinding roar of his stomach.
"Seems I'll become my next meal" he sniffed as he muttered to himself, as he weakly dragged himself up to his feet. Gosh, how could he continue living like this? He had paraded from the length to the end of Uranus, still nothing edible aside from dried-up trees and herbs. Devastated, he wondered about his family, his clan. He was worried about their well-being, and how they would be now. Silently hoping in his heart that he wasn't the only survivor from this clan. As altogether it would be meaningless as he was on the verge of death.
Breathing hard, Cassius dragged himself outside the cave, to the steep stairs. The rays from the sun hurt his eyes and he shut them tightly. For he had not been outside the cave in a while now. His dry lips quivered as he bowed his head in sorrow. With empty thought, the heat from the sun seemed to increase till it became a threatening weight to his flesh. Still, he could care less as he kept thinking his time had come. He began perceiving a burnt smell from his flesh. Yet he was unwilling to move away from the sun, even an inch.
Suddenly he heard rumbling sounds and footsteps, yards away, from the spot he sat. No, it wasn't just a person, they were many. Still unwilling to move from the burning sun or lift his head.
[No, it's just my mind playing tricks on me. It can't be] he thought still fixed on his spot
The footsteps became numerous and louder, till they were just a yard away. Finally raising his head. His dying red eyes were greeted with dust. Then his nose struck a familiar scent.
[So they made it, they're back]
----------------------
"Here, hold him tight," Mortica said as she carefully placed still wounded Cody in Gillard's arm
"Sure thing, he scoffed, your precious boy"
Ignoring him"catch up with me you guys, she raced down the yard to the entrance of the cave. Her gaze swept the entire cave. It was covered in dust, and she could barely catch any sign of life. Frown lines formed on her forehead [where could he be?] The rest finally caught up with her.
"We're home, let's get to the cave shall we?" Leading the clan to the entrance, she saw a figure perched on a rock
"Well, well if it isn't my husband, she said mockingly, spreading her arms wide, she sang sweetly, honey is home"...