Chapter 15

It has been two days since DANI underwent the druidic ritual that
separated her human half from her spirit half. The GREAT AK, thankful for the
pack’s assistance, healed her unconscious human half, as well as the rest of
the pack. She still remained unresponsive for 24 hours. SAM carried her home to
the pack’s estate and stayed by her side until she woke up. While he was glad
to have his sister back, he did not realize the extent of the druid’s ritual
and what sacrifices it would require. He does not appear to mourn the loss of
the druids but seems conflicted about the loss of the human followers.
Ultimately, he deals with his emotions by refusing to acknowledge them. The
rest of the pack leaves him alone, giving him time to process everything.

When DANI finally does wake up, she is not the DANI everyone
remembers. She seems frail and vulnerable with large gaps in her memory. The
fact that she was once a “monster” scares her. She is 100% human, not even *wolf-blooded*, and so is highly
susceptible to the *lunacy*. MASON says
aloud what everyone else is being forced to acknowledge – she can no longer
stay with the pack and needs to leave the estate. SAM says he will find them a
place to stay within the city, and promises to stay in contact with the pack.
The pack, in turn, promises to try and find a way to help her – the sister SAM
got back was not the sister he remembers either. While the pack understands the
reason is because *Uratha* need both
spirit *and* flesh to be whole, SAM is
not ready to admit that yet.  The pack
knows the best way to help DANI would be to track down her spirit, somehow
manage to capture it, and then figure out a way to join the two back together.
The only problem is, they have no idea how to do that. This is uncharted
territory, as far as any of them know.

KILLIAN holds they can start by trying to figure out where DANI’s
spirit went, and says he will take TEDDY and go back to the archery range to
see if they can track the spirit from there. LALEH suggests one way to capture
DANI’s spirit would be to bind it into a *fetish*.
She knows KILLIAN has been interested in crafting a *klaive*, a spiritual weapon bound to the *Uratha* that wields it, usually crafted from silver. If they can
bind DANI’s spirit into a *klaive*,
they can keep her with the pack until they can research how to merge *spirit* and *flesh* back together. LALEH says she will go and gather the *fetish* crafting materials she will need
to make a *klaive*. *KIDA* knows DOM would be the best one to
forge the weapon that will become the *klaive*.
Unfortunately, he is still M.I.A. She decides to take NEMO and see if they can
track DOM down and bring him home. JASON says he will do some research on how
to help DANI’s human half cope until she is reunited with her spirit. Their
missions decided, the pack separates, leaving MASON to watch over ANGEL.

KILLIAN and TEDDY step across to the *Shadow* and make their way to the archery range where the ritual was
performed. The blood thorn spirits are still there, but seem sedentary and
without purpose since their masters are now dead. The *Hisil* is heavily damaged, almost to the point of becoming a *Wound*, and the *Gauntlet* is alarmingly thin. It would be very easy for a human to
accidently stumble into the *Shadow*
here. Together, KILLIAN and TEDDY realize the blood thorns could be tasked to repair
the *Gauntlet*, cultivating whatever *essence* the pack chose. That was, after
all what the druids were using them for. Since KILLIAN had managed to turn the
blood thorns into contacts the last time he was here, he approaches them with
the idea. They are willing, happy to once again have purpose, but were heavily
damaged in the battle and need sustenance to heal. For blood thorns, that
translates into a blood offering, or *essence.*
KILLIAN doesn’t have a lot of that to offer right now, so he decides to take
TEDDY on a *Sacred Hunt*. *Sacred Hunts* allow *Uratha* to hunt a specific spirt and feed on it for *essence*. It honors both the spirit and
the *Uratha* that hunts it, so long as
the *Uratha* allows the spirit to live.
KILLIAN decides a *knowledge spirit*
would be a worthy adversary, and hopes they might glean information from the
spirit to help DANI, as well. He performs the rite, and the hunt begins.

The spirit leads them out of Golden Gate Park and traverses the
city down to the docks where it manages to lose them. Frustrated, they try to
pick the trail back up before finally having to admit the spirit has bested
them. Looking up, they see a lone *Uratha*
sitting at the end of a dock looking out across the Bay toward Treasure Island,
which is completely shrouded in an unnaturally thick fog. KILLIAN doesn’t
recognize her. As they approach, she turns to face them.

“Well look at that! You ended up coming to me…” she begins. She is
a tall woman with short, jet black hair, currently dressed in jeans, a form
fitting tank top and a black leather jacket.

KILLIAN narrows his eyes, ”Who are you?”  he asks suspiciously. Instead of answering,
she looks over at TEDDY. “Hiya Kid, how you been?”

TEDDY smiles genuinely, “Fine. Yourself?”

“Wait, you know this person?” KILLIAN asks, looking at TEDDY
quizzically.

“This is FURY. We’ve worked together before,” TEDDY answers, then
looks back over at FURY. “What are you doing here?”

“The Harbingers sent me to find his pack,” FURY responds, nodding
at KILLIAN, “Though apparently it’s your pack now as well?” TEDDY nods.

“What do the Harbingers want with us?” KILLIAN asks.

“They’re enlisting your help. Apparently, they have been trying to
reach the Night Sisters for several days. They want you to find out what happened
to them and they want me to help…Though I was told there were seven of you.
Where’s the rest of your pack?”

“Well let’s see… One of our members is out of commission. Another
one has been M.I.A for five days now, pursing a personal vendetta. The rest are…on
their own assignments.”

“Interesting…” FURY cocks her head at TEDDY, “And you decided to
throw your lot in with *this* group?”

“Yep.”

FURY shrugs, “To each’s own… Shall we
get going?” She looks back over toward Treasure Island.

“I suppose so,” KILLIAN answers,
muttering something under his breath about being voluntold. The three shift to
their *Urshul* forms and head for the
bridge that leads across the Bay to Treasure Island. In the *Shadow*, there appears to be some sort of
toll both blocking the path right in the middle of the bridge. Several spirit
cars mill around waiting to cross through.
A cheerful African American lady greets them as they approach.

“Greetings *Uratha*. I’m afraid you’ll need to pay the toll if you intend to go
any further.”

“And what is the toll?” FURY asks.

The spirit looks at her as if she is
daft, “Well I would think that would be obvious,” she says, “For sure though,
you’re goin’ to need four wheels.”

KILLIAN smiles charmingly at the lady,
“I have four paws…”

The lady laughs and returns the smile,
“Indeed you do – and mighty fine paws they are too. But your goin’ to need
wheels for this, dear.” She nods to the cars milling about behind them.

“So, we’re drag racing?” FURY asks,
then smiles impishly, “Cool!” KILLIAN snorts. Really? He would prove to the
lady he didn’t need wheels. He sizes up the barricade, and walks back several
strides. Then he turns and runs forward, easily clearing the barricade to the
other side. The lady nods to him respectfully. His toll was paid – he was free
to come and go as he pleased. He looks at TEDDY and FURY expectantly. FURY
looks disappointed, but strides back with TEDDY and makes a run for the
barricade as well. Both of them end up bouncing off an invisible wall and
tumbling backward comically. KILLIAN stifles a laugh as they recover their feet
and shake themselves off. Then he leaps back across to join them. Apparently, *they* needed wheels. FURY’s eyes light up
as she turns to assess their choices. It’s obvious she’s looking for the
coolest, fastest car in the group. She rubs her hands together gleefully as she
finally decides on a Dodge Charger with racing stripes.

He leans over to TEDDY, “Of course she
would choose a muscle car.”

Teddy smiles, “Same old FURY.”

FURY looks the Charger up and down, then
strides over to the driver’s side. “Come on, Sexy,” she says, stroking its hood
lovingly, “Let’s go for a drive.” KILLIAN rolls his eyes and walks over with
TEDDY.

The Charger revs it engine
disdainfully, “I think not, *Uratha*.”
FURY frowns. Obviously, the spirit was going to need a little more convincing.
Fair enough…she could negotiate. Before she gets a chance, though, KILLIAN
circles around behind the Charger and attacks. Okay…well that was one form of
negotiation – not the kind she was initially going for, but who was she to
argue. The Charger spins out, sideswiping KILLIAN, knocking him several feet
backward. TEDDY takes a few steps back and starts studying the spirit. FURY
recognizes the look. PHILIPPA used to get that look all the time when she was
trying to figure out a spirit’s weakness. PHILIPPA was part of FURY’s old pack.
That meant it fell to her and KILLIAN to distract the spirit until TEDDY
finished her evaluation. FURY paces the Charger as it spins, and rakes it along
the driver’s side, leaving deep rends in the metal. The Charger spins back
around and rams her head on, but she is able to roll over the top of the hood.
KILLIAN strikes at it again and FURY follows suit. The Charger remains focused
on FURY, which is exactly what she wanted. It was a worthy opponent, powerful
and undaunted. Finally, TEDDY barks out that they need to render the spirit
motionless. FURY rolls back across the hood landing directly between the
Charger’s headlights and grips its front bumper tightly, digging in her heels
and trying to establish a grapple. KILLIAN latches on below the trunk, and
Teddy charges it from the side. It spins its wheels, trying to break free as
TEDDY strafes it. Finally, the Charger submits. FURY releases the bumper, and
shifts back to her *Hishu* form, “I’m
driving!!”

“I call Shotgun!” KILLIAN quips,
leaping over to the passenger door and shifting up as well.

TEDDY looks at the maniacal glee in
FURY’s eyes as she revs the Charger’s engine, “I’m not letting her drive! Move
over – I’m driving.”

“I already called it – and he called
Shotgun. Get in the back, Kid – you snooze you lose!” TEDDY leaps into the back
of the Charger, shifting into her *Urhan* form
so she can fit in its almost nonexistent back seat. “Alright!” FURY exclaims,
“Let’s see what this baby can do!” KILLIAN and TEDDY feel themselves shoved
into the back of their seats as FURY peels out, pushing the Charger to its
limits and beyond, ending in a 720-degree spin at the edge of Treasure Island.
As they disembark, the Charger revs its engine respectfully and races off. As
the three *Uratha* pass through the
outer edge of the fog, the *Shadow* becomes
somewhat disturbing. It seems like the Night Sisters have abandoned their
territory. Their markings around the edge of the island are old and as they
walk through, everything appears dead or dying. There is no spirit presence,
even though they are in the *pale* of
Treasure Island’s powerful *locus*.

“I think it’s about time we took a
look at the other side.” KILLIAN says. FURY and TEDDY nod in agreement. TEDDY
steps across first, landing on something soft and squishy. The fog hangs around
her feet like a heavy blanket. She can hear chitters and hisses echoing all
around her and can see xenomorphs skittering in and out of view amongst the
fog. She remains motionless, trying not to attract attention, while she tries
to assess what she’s dealing with. The Harbingers talked of xenomorph problem
in San Francisco, but this is the first time she has seen one – or in this
case, hundreds, all over the island. Off in the distance, TEDDY can hear
chanting, all female voices – the Night Sisters? FURY appears several feet in
front of her, but is not successful at going unnoticed. Six xenomorphs surround
her, hissing aggressively.

KILLIAN is unsuccessful in crossing
the *Gauntlet* to join TEDDY and
FURY.  He senses an explosion of E*ssence* off in the distance and moves
toward it, intrigued. He can tell he is approaching the center of the locus and
as he draws closer, he can see *Essence*
pouring into the *Shadow.* KILLIAN can’t
resist the urge to lap it up eagerly – he has been running low on *Essence* for a while. This seems to be
the center of whatever is happening on Treasure Island. Maybe he could cross
here.

FURY snarls back at the xenomorphs
surrounding her. She can sense TEDDY several feet behind her. They don’t appear
to have noticed her yet. It is obvious the xenomorphs are trying to intimidate
her and force her off the island, but FURY won’t be backed down so easily. Her
snarl deepens into a threatening growl and the xenomorphs back away, keeping a
respectful distance. As she begins to move, they allow her to pass. She circles
around toward TEDDY, including her in the bubble of respect she has forged for
herself, and together they move toward the chanting. The Night Sisters are gathered
around a large bonfire with a sea of xenomorphs surrounding them. In front of
them is a much larger and more powerful xenomorph, likely the queen. The sea
parts as FURY and TEDDY move through.

KILLIAN steps across to find himself
face to face with the largest xenomorph he has ever seen. She towers above him,
and hisses angrily. The Nights Sisters stand in a semi-circle behind him. Their
*Alpha* is not pleased with his
interruption. “What is the meaning of this?!” the alien queen growls in the *First Tongue*. TEDDY and FURY move up
beside the Night Sisters and are met with angry glares.

“Explain yourself!” their *Alpha* demands of KILLIAN. Her packmates
continue chanting as she steps forward.

KILLIAN looks around at the sea of
xenomorphs and meets the *Alpha’s* gaze
with an equally accusatory glare. “I think you are the ones you should be
explaining *yourselves*…What exactly is
going on here?”

“This is not your concern. You will
not interfere,” the *Alpha* retorts.
KILLIAN’s jaw tightens and FURY crouches, preparing to attack. One swift,
surgical strike and she could end the ritual here and now. Granted, it would
most likely mean suicide. The three of them wouldn’t last long against the
xenomorphs’ retaliation. They were grossly outnumbered. They might have a
chance of escaping through the *Shadow*
– the xenomorphs didn’t appear to be able to cross over. The Night Sisters
would probably hunt them down, though. As FURY ponders her options, TEDDY
speaks up, looking at both her and KILLIAN.

“Stop,” is all she says. Stop what?
FURY was going to need more than that. KILLIAN looks at the young *Iron Master* quizzically.

“What’s going on here, kid? What are
they doing?” FURY asks.

“They’re creating a gateway to send
the xenomorphs into the *Shadow*,”
TEDDY explains.

“And they won’t be able to return to
the material world?” FURY clarifies. TEDDY shakes her head. “Are you sure?”

“It’s a one-way portal.” *TEDDY confirms.* ‘

“Not sure we want them rampaging
through the *Shadow*,” KILLIAN comments,
“but it would rid San Francisco of the problem. The *Shadow* is vast and infinitely more dangerous than the material
world. Their numbers would most likely be thinned over time.” TEDDY nods,
breathing a sigh of relief, and the three of them step back, allowing the Night
Sisters to complete the ritual. The portal opens and the xenomorph queen leads
her hive through. The Night Sisters collapse in exhaustion as the portal closes
behind them. The island is eerily quiet again. KILLIAN, TEDDY and FURY return
to the mainland.

As they make their way back to the
archery range, they discuss what to do with the site. It was heavily damaged
during the druid’s ritual and the *Gauntlet*
*was dangerously thin. The* blood
thorns *could help repair it, and in doing so, could cultivate whatever* Essence *the pack desired. They decide*
cultivating solitude and mystery could hopefully keep people away from the
site. It would shut down the archery range. The *Great Ak* would probably be willing to close off the area with heavy
overgrowth. They return to the *blood*
thorns*, each giving a small offering of* Essence
to the spirits to set them on their new task. They are about to return to the
estate and check in with the rest of the pack when shots ring out from the
trees surrounding the clearing. KILLIAN feels the sharp sting of a bullet.

“I got him!” a male voice rings out.
KILLIAN and TEDDY scan the trees and discover half a dozen park rangers
surrounding them. FURY crouches, preparing to spring into action. As they
feared, the humans managed to stumble into the *Shadow*.

“We need to round them up and get them
out of here,” KILLIAN barks, shifting into his *Urshal* form and causing the rangers to scatter. “Try not to kill them, though,” he adds, looking
pointedly at FURY. The three break and charge into the woods after the rangers.

*The*
Story Continues…

Current Developments - Chapter 14 - Chapter 16