The fire consumed about an acre of the forest on the property and with the help of the Pipers, the local fire department was able to contain and extinguish the fire quickly. Brig finished rolling down his sleeves with his cousin in view as he finished speaking with the Fire Marshall. Neither he or Hammer discussed the situation that LT had brought up but he knew it had been on both their minds. He did not have to ask LT where he was going when Brig dismissed him from the fire and was not surprised when he returned with the information.
Not surprised but very disappointed.
LT approached Brig and quietly relayed the information. 'Piper 5 has been silent for the past two hours.' Nodding Brig turned to leave but LT stopped him.
'Sir...there's more.'
Brig listened as he buttoned the cuff of his shirt. As LT finished Brig's shoulder slumped and he looked at his second in command with an annoyed look.
'You're serious?'
LT nodded and took a step back, looking past him. Brig followed his gaze as Hammerthynn approached them both.
'Piper 5 has been located.' Hammerthynn nodded and began to walk back toward the Den. Brig reached out and touched his cousin's arm.
'Hammer...it's Marthinus.'
Barrel of a gun.
((Continued from - If I fell))
Do you mean this horny creep
Set upon weary feet
Who looks in need of sleep
That doesn't come
This twisted, tortured mess
This bed of sinfulness
Who's longing for some rest
And feeling numb
-Depeche Mode, Barrel of a Gun
It was huge and beautifully covered with neon, twinkling lights. Up and down. Up and down. Ellis stood watching mesmerized by the dancing unicorns, mermaids and seal shaped boats as they traveled in a circle in front of her. The smell of cotton candy, sickly sweet. The cheapness of the bright paint was rivaled only by the smell of stale food, musty board walk wood and gritty dirt underneath her nails.
Ellis looked down at her hands. The dirt was shoved painfully up into the bed of her nails and her tips bled thick, fat droplets of red blood. Her shoulders ached and her head throbbed. It was maybe the loud music being piped out of the frightful color nightmare in front of her, aching her mind.
She was alone, standing there watching the...merry go round, her mind told her. It was a merry go round on board walk near a pier. The salt water was soaked into her clothes still and sticky with...blood. It spun round and round, slowly up and down in front of her until she could see the people riding the mermaids, unicorns and seal shaped boats. Till she could see Simon. Only her mind told her it was Simon because the bloody pulp of a man that was draped over the purple seal did not look like him.
Her head throbbed and the muffled music was getting louder as the merry go round slowed down. It was her turn to ride it.
Ellis opened her eyes.
Brig Jameson
16 years ago
Iov Hammerthynn
16 years ago
It took great focus and concentration not to destroy the cell phone in his right hand. Great focus and concentration.
A team of Pipers were missing. His responsibility, Marthinus Steyn, had gone after them when he had been told to remain in the Den. Reports had come in over the ruckus that had happened the previous evening, reports that the Alpha had undoubtedly heard about. It was now his responsibility to inform the Alpha of the situation and he would most definitely want to come with them now that they were preparing to track down the transponder which is apparently what Steyn had done.
Hammer looked at his cousin, the Commander of the Pipers, once and with this look conveyed a multitude of rebukes. Brig knew better than to answer the look.
Looking down at this cell phone again, he called the Alpha's private cell and left a message to meet him and his team at Piper 5's location.
A team of Pipers were missing. His responsibility, Marthinus Steyn, had gone after them when he had been told to remain in the Den. Reports had come in over the ruckus that had happened the previous evening, reports that the Alpha had undoubtedly heard about. It was now his responsibility to inform the Alpha of the situation and he would most definitely want to come with them now that they were preparing to track down the transponder which is apparently what Steyn had done.
Hammer looked at his cousin, the Commander of the Pipers, once and with this look conveyed a multitude of rebukes. Brig knew better than to answer the look.
Looking down at this cell phone again, he called the Alpha's private cell and left a message to meet him and his team at Piper 5's location.
Marthinus T. Steyn
16 years ago
Marthinus stood on the gravel driveway, hands behind his back and the rush of wind blowing around him. The soft thump-thump-thump faded in the distance and he tried not to let his conscious get the better of him.
He had told Carol he would make no promises. Either she got there before his Pack did or they were all dead. Himself included. There was no point in deluding himself - if Hammerthynn and the pack had gotten there first and Ellis and Simon were still alive, he would have died with them. As it stood right then, if they ever found out he had helped them...well he didn't want to think about it.
Marthinus had tried his best to get to the Pipers in time but their death wasn't Ellis' fault. One could make an argument that it was in fact her fault - but they didn't die by her hand but by another Piper. This was not going to end good.
Slipping the silver rings off his fingers, he placed them back into his pants pockets. The skin underneath the rings were slightly discolored, almost tanned. He looked at his hands and was grateful that the trick had worked long enough to get the deed done.
Slowly he reached up and touched his bald head, waiting for his Aipa and the Pack to come.
He had told Carol he would make no promises. Either she got there before his Pack did or they were all dead. Himself included. There was no point in deluding himself - if Hammerthynn and the pack had gotten there first and Ellis and Simon were still alive, he would have died with them. As it stood right then, if they ever found out he had helped them...well he didn't want to think about it.
Marthinus had tried his best to get to the Pipers in time but their death wasn't Ellis' fault. One could make an argument that it was in fact her fault - but they didn't die by her hand but by another Piper. This was not going to end good.
Slipping the silver rings off his fingers, he placed them back into his pants pockets. The skin underneath the rings were slightly discolored, almost tanned. He looked at his hands and was grateful that the trick had worked long enough to get the deed done.
Slowly he reached up and touched his bald head, waiting for his Aipa and the Pack to come.
Xeph
16 years ago
Xeph, comfortable in his suite, was lounging on the couch, watching a movie with Nikhila. He wasn't actually paying much attention to it, though. It had been her idea and he had accommodated her. He knew she was trying to take his mind off the events of the previous few nights which consisted of an interesting night of bowling and and even more (and worse) night hearing some very disturbing reports regarding his Pipers.
So when the phone he referred to as his Bat-phone rang, he glared at it. Picking it up when it stopped, he listened to the message and sighed. Sitting up, putting shoes on, and pulling a t-shirt over his head, he apologised to Nikhila, who made what he assumed was a great effort not to try to join him and simply asked him to be safe.
Xeph strode from the Den, making it as far as the front entrance before Lily stepped out in front of him. He looked at her, at the stubborn green eyes turned steely, and knew asking her to stay out of the way would be pointless.
They exchanged no words, but Xeph nodded at her and she accompanied him out of the Den and off to the coordinates that had been relayed to him. Xeph was already keyed up... from what he'd heard of the previous night, Hammer already had a lot of explaining to do.
There had best be some answers involved here.
So when the phone he referred to as his Bat-phone rang, he glared at it. Picking it up when it stopped, he listened to the message and sighed. Sitting up, putting shoes on, and pulling a t-shirt over his head, he apologised to Nikhila, who made what he assumed was a great effort not to try to join him and simply asked him to be safe.
Xeph strode from the Den, making it as far as the front entrance before Lily stepped out in front of him. He looked at her, at the stubborn green eyes turned steely, and knew asking her to stay out of the way would be pointless.
They exchanged no words, but Xeph nodded at her and she accompanied him out of the Den and off to the coordinates that had been relayed to him. Xeph was already keyed up... from what he'd heard of the previous night, Hammer already had a lot of explaining to do.
There had best be some answers involved here.
Brig Jameson
16 years ago
Brig stepped out of the black SUV with his hand draped on the door. He looked up the gravel driveway at LT who was walking down toward him with a green face. They had sent the Pipers ahead to scout the area and survey the scene - it had only been two minutes when LT called in that it was clear to proceed.
That meant there was nothing there, nothing good at least.
LT approached him and then turned to the side, not looking at his Commander. Brig put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. Passing the shorter Piper, Brig looked back at Hammerthynn who was stepping out of the SUV and they approached the cabin together. Marthinus stepped out onto the porch, his hands slipping out of the pockets of his trousers and nervously balling them into fists. Hammer and Brig climbed the porch and stood towering over Marthinus. He wouldn't be the one to deal with the new werewolf and he didn't want to be there when Hammer did.
'You have probably,' he checked his watch, 'two minutes to tell us what happened before the Alpha gets here and regulates us all, Steyn.'
That meant there was nothing there, nothing good at least.
LT approached him and then turned to the side, not looking at his Commander. Brig put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. Passing the shorter Piper, Brig looked back at Hammerthynn who was stepping out of the SUV and they approached the cabin together. Marthinus stepped out onto the porch, his hands slipping out of the pockets of his trousers and nervously balling them into fists. Hammer and Brig climbed the porch and stood towering over Marthinus. He wouldn't be the one to deal with the new werewolf and he didn't want to be there when Hammer did.
'You have probably,' he checked his watch, 'two minutes to tell us what happened before the Alpha gets here and regulates us all, Steyn.'
Iov Hammerthynn
16 years ago
Hammer looked down at the five foot eight man from his six foot five stature and brushed past him, electing to see the damage for himself instead of hearing it from Marthinus. He was just too angry to even look at Steyn was probably closer to the truth.
Stepping inside the cabin Hammer let the door open and with a large sigh he looked down at the fallen Pipers. Piper 1 was in the process of bagging up the dead men, but they all stopped to look up at their Beta. Behind him LT entered the cabin and began to recap what had happened.
'Three Pipers - Shorty, Recon, and Jamie,' LT referred to them all by their nicknames but Hammer knew them all as nephews and cousins. 'All with one gunshot wound to the head.' LT neglected to mention that they were all probably dead before they hit the floor, but Brig's second in command didn't need to tell him that.
Hammer asked in an unemotional voice, 'Michaels is where?'
He really didn't have to ask that, but the need to maintain some sort of normalcy was overwhelming. Hammer was looking at fallen relatives, not just his special tactics team. These men were blood and someone killed them and he had an idea of who it might be. The smell of blood hit him the second he stepped out of the vehicle in the driveway and majority of it was coming from the back of the cabin, down the stairs.
LT answered quietly, 'In the basement, sir.'
'Right then.'
Hammer nodded LT to accompany him and they made their way down to the fruit cellar. Rounding the corner and stepping in view of the door to the cellar, Hammer began to chew on his lip. A nervous habit, one that seemed less obtrusive than busing his hands, gave the only indication of annoyance. It was better than vomiting.
Stepping into the cellar his boot sank in the blood saturated dirt. That first step sent chills up his spine but he remained emotionless and continued in. Michaels was in pieces all over the basement. The walls, floors...Hammerthynn looked up...and the ceiling. The term 'torn asunder' came to mind and the queasiness in his stomach cramped up like a rock. He had seen worse, hell he had DONE worse - but as crazy as Michaels apparently was, he was still family.
Instruments were strewn all over the floor and there was a broken wood table. His eyes surveyed the room and noticed thin fingers with painted fingernails mixed in with Michaels. Hammer closed his eyes and swallowed - Michaels had been torturing the woman and her companion. Her death meant more to him than anyone but even he had a limit to how long a wolf should play with their kill. There were some things you did not do - a certain amount of respect you paid to your kill.
Pipers did not torture or rape.
They were in and out. As clean, as quiet and as deadly as you please, but they did not torture. Part of him, he was sad to say, admitted that Michaels got what he deserved.
The crunching noise of an approaching car flicked by his ear and both LT and Hammer turned back toward the door. Allowing himself a disgusted look, Hammer nodded toward LT again.
'Come with me.'
Then both werewolves ascended the stairs to meet the Alpha.
Stepping inside the cabin Hammer let the door open and with a large sigh he looked down at the fallen Pipers. Piper 1 was in the process of bagging up the dead men, but they all stopped to look up at their Beta. Behind him LT entered the cabin and began to recap what had happened.
'Three Pipers - Shorty, Recon, and Jamie,' LT referred to them all by their nicknames but Hammer knew them all as nephews and cousins. 'All with one gunshot wound to the head.' LT neglected to mention that they were all probably dead before they hit the floor, but Brig's second in command didn't need to tell him that.
Hammer asked in an unemotional voice, 'Michaels is where?'
He really didn't have to ask that, but the need to maintain some sort of normalcy was overwhelming. Hammer was looking at fallen relatives, not just his special tactics team. These men were blood and someone killed them and he had an idea of who it might be. The smell of blood hit him the second he stepped out of the vehicle in the driveway and majority of it was coming from the back of the cabin, down the stairs.
LT answered quietly, 'In the basement, sir.'
'Right then.'
Hammer nodded LT to accompany him and they made their way down to the fruit cellar. Rounding the corner and stepping in view of the door to the cellar, Hammer began to chew on his lip. A nervous habit, one that seemed less obtrusive than busing his hands, gave the only indication of annoyance. It was better than vomiting.
Stepping into the cellar his boot sank in the blood saturated dirt. That first step sent chills up his spine but he remained emotionless and continued in. Michaels was in pieces all over the basement. The walls, floors...Hammerthynn looked up...and the ceiling. The term 'torn asunder' came to mind and the queasiness in his stomach cramped up like a rock. He had seen worse, hell he had DONE worse - but as crazy as Michaels apparently was, he was still family.
Instruments were strewn all over the floor and there was a broken wood table. His eyes surveyed the room and noticed thin fingers with painted fingernails mixed in with Michaels. Hammer closed his eyes and swallowed - Michaels had been torturing the woman and her companion. Her death meant more to him than anyone but even he had a limit to how long a wolf should play with their kill. There were some things you did not do - a certain amount of respect you paid to your kill.
Pipers did not torture or rape.
They were in and out. As clean, as quiet and as deadly as you please, but they did not torture. Part of him, he was sad to say, admitted that Michaels got what he deserved.
The crunching noise of an approaching car flicked by his ear and both LT and Hammer turned back toward the door. Allowing himself a disgusted look, Hammer nodded toward LT again.
'Come with me.'
Then both werewolves ascended the stairs to meet the Alpha.
Marthinus T. Steyn
16 years ago
'I disobeyed a direct order and tracked the transponder myself. I know what Ellis is capable of, Commander...I was trying to stop a slaughter but I must have showed up just as it finished.'
'And Duban and her companion?'
'Gone. There were traces of familiar scents - more than likely they were rescued by Tacharan's Mercs.'
Marthinus knew that Brig had noticed the military boot prints crisscrossing through out the cabin. He had made a mental note to step over the prints knowing that anything out of the ordinary would immediately be picked up. He wasn't too worried about appearing nervous since that was to be expected, especially with the Alpha's car coming up the gravel drive.
Hammerthynn and LT stepped out of the cabin behind them and Marthinus avoided looking at their faces, not wanting to read the emotions that he knew even Hammer couldn't hide. It hurt him to see the dead Pipers, but he couldn't imagine how it must have felt to blood kin.
The four werewolves stood on the porch and watched as the Alpha stepped out of the vehicle and over to the passenger side door, opening it. When Lily stepped out of the car, Marthinus, as well as Brig and LT, could not help but look at Hammer.
The tension just went up about one thousand fold.
(OOC - Permission to move Xeph and Lily)
'And Duban and her companion?'
'Gone. There were traces of familiar scents - more than likely they were rescued by Tacharan's Mercs.'
Marthinus knew that Brig had noticed the military boot prints crisscrossing through out the cabin. He had made a mental note to step over the prints knowing that anything out of the ordinary would immediately be picked up. He wasn't too worried about appearing nervous since that was to be expected, especially with the Alpha's car coming up the gravel drive.
Hammerthynn and LT stepped out of the cabin behind them and Marthinus avoided looking at their faces, not wanting to read the emotions that he knew even Hammer couldn't hide. It hurt him to see the dead Pipers, but he couldn't imagine how it must have felt to blood kin.
The four werewolves stood on the porch and watched as the Alpha stepped out of the vehicle and over to the passenger side door, opening it. When Lily stepped out of the car, Marthinus, as well as Brig and LT, could not help but look at Hammer.
The tension just went up about one thousand fold.
(OOC - Permission to move Xeph and Lily)
Xeph
16 years ago
Xeph popped the car into neutral, jammed on the parking brake, and unfolded himself from behind the wheel. He exchanged glances with Lily, both of them equally grim. The men on the porch of the cabin looked ill, all of them.
"I have a feeling this isn't going to be pretty," he said to Lily. It was hard to view her as "mother" at this moment. Thirty years of vague, infrequent communication stood between them, along with the knowledge Xeph had. Lily had been, still was, a capable Beta, strong, stubborn, steel-willed.
But she was his mother. "You don't have to be here."
Nonetheless, he got out of the car, walked around the outside, and opened her door for her. Then he turned, keen eyes picking out each man on the porch of the cabin; Brig, LT, Hammer, and Marthinus. All looking unhappy, all wearing various degrees of discomfort on their faces. LT looked positively green.
With long strides, Xeph crossed the swath of grass and gravel between his car and the porch. Climbing up to the same level as his Pipers, he surveryed them all, a look almost of sadness in his eyes. This, whatever had happened, was bad. And Xeph would need to do what an Alpha must do to maintain order. That didn't mean it would be pleasant.
"So. Who wants to start?"
His face was grave. Xeph was already angry, and if the preliminary reports were correct, he would soon be furious. He trusted the Pipers to maintain order and security. Not ruin them all. Betrayal, disappointment, and bitter anger hovered beneath the surface, but for the moment he kept his expression as neutral as possible.
"I have a feeling this isn't going to be pretty," he said to Lily. It was hard to view her as "mother" at this moment. Thirty years of vague, infrequent communication stood between them, along with the knowledge Xeph had. Lily had been, still was, a capable Beta, strong, stubborn, steel-willed.
But she was his mother. "You don't have to be here."
Nonetheless, he got out of the car, walked around the outside, and opened her door for her. Then he turned, keen eyes picking out each man on the porch of the cabin; Brig, LT, Hammer, and Marthinus. All looking unhappy, all wearing various degrees of discomfort on their faces. LT looked positively green.
With long strides, Xeph crossed the swath of grass and gravel between his car and the porch. Climbing up to the same level as his Pipers, he surveryed them all, a look almost of sadness in his eyes. This, whatever had happened, was bad. And Xeph would need to do what an Alpha must do to maintain order. That didn't mean it would be pleasant.
"So. Who wants to start?"
His face was grave. Xeph was already angry, and if the preliminary reports were correct, he would soon be furious. He trusted the Pipers to maintain order and security. Not ruin them all. Betrayal, disappointment, and bitter anger hovered beneath the surface, but for the moment he kept his expression as neutral as possible.
Lily
16 years ago
Lily turned to Aidan when he spoke to her. They'd been quiet for most of the drive, both lost in thought. No doubt Aidan's concerns were much more holistic than hers. In this, Lily did not deceive herself. She had not taken an active role as Beta for her son since coming to Nachton. Of course she'd helped where she could, but she knew that two men she considered friends were involved in whatever had happened here.
She'd gone to Marthinus' suite earlier that evening, hoping to coax the man out, to find him gone and nowhere to be found. No one was too reluctant to give information to the Alpha's own mother though, so it hadn't taken much to determine that something serious was happening. She'd found Aidan, luckily, just before he'd left the Den.
Now, as he turned to her and tried to give her a reason to stay in the car, she smiled softly at him and replied, "I know it isn't, but I do have to be here."
There were undercurrents here not even Aidan was aware of. And shouldn't be aware of, not just yet. As he opened the door for her, Lily's keener-than-average senses picked up the unmistakeable tang of blood on the air. She drew in a breath, sharply, and followed him toward the cabin.
Once there, she focused mostly on Iov and Marthinus. Gazing at first the one and then the other; old and new, Gifter and Gifted, both torn between conflicting loyalties, she wondered exactly what lay beneath both facades. Whatever had happened here, she knew, would change the way things were for them all.
She'd gone to Marthinus' suite earlier that evening, hoping to coax the man out, to find him gone and nowhere to be found. No one was too reluctant to give information to the Alpha's own mother though, so it hadn't taken much to determine that something serious was happening. She'd found Aidan, luckily, just before he'd left the Den.
Now, as he turned to her and tried to give her a reason to stay in the car, she smiled softly at him and replied, "I know it isn't, but I do have to be here."
There were undercurrents here not even Aidan was aware of. And shouldn't be aware of, not just yet. As he opened the door for her, Lily's keener-than-average senses picked up the unmistakeable tang of blood on the air. She drew in a breath, sharply, and followed him toward the cabin.
Once there, she focused mostly on Iov and Marthinus. Gazing at first the one and then the other; old and new, Gifter and Gifted, both torn between conflicting loyalties, she wondered exactly what lay beneath both facades. Whatever had happened here, she knew, would change the way things were for them all.
Brig Jameson
16 years ago
Brig took a step forward and cleared his throat.
'Sir...The Pipers were on city sewer grid mapping detail last evening and my second in command,' he nodded toward LT who looked at the Alpha and nodded in agreement, 'encountered the Duban woman and her companion. Wounded, LT called in reinforcements with orders for eyes only. Piper 5 went rogue and upon capturing Duban and Huntington, brought them here.
During debrief I was informed of Piper 5 going missing but the lightning fire on the property was our first priority. Steyn tracked their transponder and found them here.'
Brig skipped the multiple accidents the Pipers and the Duban woman caused during their high speed pursuit. The Alpha already knew and the look on his face confirmed that. Brig looked at LT who continued.
'Sir...The Pipers were on city sewer grid mapping detail last evening and my second in command,' he nodded toward LT who looked at the Alpha and nodded in agreement, 'encountered the Duban woman and her companion. Wounded, LT called in reinforcements with orders for eyes only. Piper 5 went rogue and upon capturing Duban and Huntington, brought them here.
During debrief I was informed of Piper 5 going missing but the lightning fire on the property was our first priority. Steyn tracked their transponder and found them here.'
Brig skipped the multiple accidents the Pipers and the Duban woman caused during their high speed pursuit. The Alpha already knew and the look on his face confirmed that. Brig looked at LT who continued.
The Pipers
16 years ago
'Piper 5 did go rogue approximately three hours ago. They ceased radio contact and left the city.' LT turned and put his hand on the front door of the cabin. He hesitated and looked back at his Commander who gave him no indication to stop, despite present company. Still, he looked past the men to Mrs. Xephier.
'Ma'am.' LT swallowed hard and opened the door. Stepping over the bodies, he entered the main room of the cabin and turned back to the group to continue his report.
'We've determined that the resulting deaths were by a single gunshot wound to the head.' He pointed to each individual, 'Samuels...Shorty, Mastersons...Recon, and Jameson...Jamie.'
LT wiped the sweat off his forehead . These were brethren, cousins and brothers. Their deaths were empty and worthless and LT never felt more like puking in his life. In a small, tight voice he finished his report.
'Michaels is downstairs in the basement.'
'Ma'am.' LT swallowed hard and opened the door. Stepping over the bodies, he entered the main room of the cabin and turned back to the group to continue his report.
'We've determined that the resulting deaths were by a single gunshot wound to the head.' He pointed to each individual, 'Samuels...Shorty, Mastersons...Recon, and Jameson...Jamie.'
LT wiped the sweat off his forehead . These were brethren, cousins and brothers. Their deaths were empty and worthless and LT never felt more like puking in his life. In a small, tight voice he finished his report.
'Michaels is downstairs in the basement.'
Marthinus T. Steyn
16 years ago
'I did disobey a direct order but my reasons were for the safety of the team. Ellis is...I read Michaels' profile. It wasn't so much of what he'd do to her - but what she'd do to all of them because of it.' He pointed down at the Pipers laying in their opened body bags and added. 'But this wasn't her or the Clan. It would not have been...this neat.'
Stepping into the cabin he continued, 'I arrived here approximately one hour ago and everything is as you see it now. The Pipers were already dead and Michaels...Ellis and my grandfa...Simon were already gone.'
Marthinus swallowed, nervous about his slip.
'I must have just missed them. I called in my position and waited for the Commander and the Beta's arrival.'
Marthinus felt a thin sheet of sweat cover him. The cabin was warming up and the smell from the bodies were beginning to ripen. He did not want to be there any longer than necessary but the Alpha would want to know everything. He was hesitant to walk down to the basement with the Alpha's mother present so he waited for Hammerthynn to continue the report. Marthinus did not to look directly at Hammer. That missing scared eye seemed to have almost a phantom like soul gaze and risking a look wasn't something Marthinus wanted to do.
Stepping into the cabin he continued, 'I arrived here approximately one hour ago and everything is as you see it now. The Pipers were already dead and Michaels...Ellis and my grandfa...Simon were already gone.'
Marthinus swallowed, nervous about his slip.
'I must have just missed them. I called in my position and waited for the Commander and the Beta's arrival.'
Marthinus felt a thin sheet of sweat cover him. The cabin was warming up and the smell from the bodies were beginning to ripen. He did not want to be there any longer than necessary but the Alpha would want to know everything. He was hesitant to walk down to the basement with the Alpha's mother present so he waited for Hammerthynn to continue the report. Marthinus did not to look directly at Hammer. That missing scared eye seemed to have almost a phantom like soul gaze and risking a look wasn't something Marthinus wanted to do.
Iov Hammerthynn
16 years ago
Hammerthynn watched as Brig followed Marthinus and LT into the cabin, but he held back with the Alpha and Lily. He was not sure of why she chose this moment to oversee a Piper mission (or failure, he added) but the basement was not something he wanted her to see. Nor would it be something Xeph would want his mother to bear witness to.
'I accept responsibility for the failure of this encounter and previous missions involving the Duban woman. She has eluded us on several occasions and has an uncanny knack for escaping...difficult situations.
I believe they are correct in their assumptions that these resulting deaths were not by Duban's hand, but Michaels' was.'
Hammer took a step closer to Xeph and as he passed him into the cabin he looked the Alpha in the eye and said quietly, 'You do not want your mother to see the basement.'
Never one to tell Xeph anything, he felt that this advice was necessary. Lily would not want to see that kind of carnage. No one would. And despite being as old as he was, that kind of blood thirsty fury still rattled him to the bone.
'It is unfortunate that Michaels' took it upon himself to secure the Duban woman and her companion and conduct unsanctioned...interrogation. His actions brought upon the deaths of Piper 5, but it was my mistake in...' Hammerthynn took a deep breath.
'It was my mistake.'
'I accept responsibility for the failure of this encounter and previous missions involving the Duban woman. She has eluded us on several occasions and has an uncanny knack for escaping...difficult situations.
I believe they are correct in their assumptions that these resulting deaths were not by Duban's hand, but Michaels' was.'
Hammer took a step closer to Xeph and as he passed him into the cabin he looked the Alpha in the eye and said quietly, 'You do not want your mother to see the basement.'
Never one to tell Xeph anything, he felt that this advice was necessary. Lily would not want to see that kind of carnage. No one would. And despite being as old as he was, that kind of blood thirsty fury still rattled him to the bone.
'It is unfortunate that Michaels' took it upon himself to secure the Duban woman and her companion and conduct unsanctioned...interrogation. His actions brought upon the deaths of Piper 5, but it was my mistake in...' Hammerthynn took a deep breath.
'It was my mistake.'
Xeph
16 years ago
Xeph listened as, one after another, all involved gave their accounts. His blood pressure rose with each one. His mind continued to go back to Brig's words even as he heard everyone else's.
Looking at the second-in-command, a man he'd known for years, he asked one question.
"Who threw the first punch?"
Xeph's tone would brook no argument, he would tolerate nothing but the truth. He trusted LT, Brig, all of the Pipers, to be loyal and honest at all times. It was an important distinction in Xeph's mind, for while self-defense was allowable, he had in NO way sanctioned any sort of violence or interrogation of the Duban woman or her family.
He heard Hammer's words of advice, but Lily was already moving further into the cabin, slowly, as if in a trance. Xeph shot a warning look at Hammer and moved to follow his mother, but as the basement door opened he was assaulted by the rank smell of blood and already-decaying flesh.
"Mom, I wouldn't..."
Xeph descended after Lily, stopping at the bottom of the stairs when she did. Taller than her, he had the same view of the room and had to rely on his rigid control to keep himself in check. Looking at it from the view of a doctor he noted various body parts, or piece of body parts, making a visible effort to remain detached.
He opened his mouth as if to speak, but Lily spoke first.
Looking at the second-in-command, a man he'd known for years, he asked one question.
"Who threw the first punch?"
Xeph's tone would brook no argument, he would tolerate nothing but the truth. He trusted LT, Brig, all of the Pipers, to be loyal and honest at all times. It was an important distinction in Xeph's mind, for while self-defense was allowable, he had in NO way sanctioned any sort of violence or interrogation of the Duban woman or her family.
He heard Hammer's words of advice, but Lily was already moving further into the cabin, slowly, as if in a trance. Xeph shot a warning look at Hammer and moved to follow his mother, but as the basement door opened he was assaulted by the rank smell of blood and already-decaying flesh.
"Mom, I wouldn't..."
Xeph descended after Lily, stopping at the bottom of the stairs when she did. Taller than her, he had the same view of the room and had to rely on his rigid control to keep himself in check. Looking at it from the view of a doctor he noted various body parts, or piece of body parts, making a visible effort to remain detached.
He opened his mouth as if to speak, but Lily spoke first.
Lily
16 years ago
Lily kept an ear tuned to what the men were saying, but she advanced into the cabin ahead of Aidan. Crouching by the uncovered bodies in their unrelieved bags of black, her hand fluttered over each face as if she would close their eyes for them. She didn't touch them though; the time for such formalities was long gone.
Such senselessness. Her keen senses alert, she could almost smell the fear on each body, or was that her imagination?
There had been more here. It wasn't as they said. Marthinus... Marthinus was the key. His grandfather? She favored him with a curious look.
Behind her, Iov and Aidan exchanged words in low voices, but their quietly spoken tones were not enough to keep her from hearing. She understood the tone of Iov's voice, but he better than all should have known to forbid her something, or tell her "not to." Lily was drawn to the basement, the need to know what had taken place strong within her.
Down the basement steps, ignoring Aidan's voice behind her. The senses which served her even better than the usual wolf were afire. She smelled it before she saw it... not just blood, but internal organs, the leavings of a disemboweling, the offal that resulted. Lily was no stranger to the hunt and the kill. These scents were familiar.
Before stepping off the staircase, before using her eyes, she let the smells assault her once more. This time she picked it out, something almost undetectable underneath the overwhelming scent of the kill.
The order was wrong. Marthinus did not arrive after Ellis and Simon had left, as he claimed. Perhaps he didn't know, perhaps he hadn't understood... some werewolves, most werewolves, wouldn't have been able to pick up the subtle hints, but Lily's senses were above and beyond most.
Marthinus had arrived before Ellis and Simon had gone.
Now she opened her eyes. The carnage in here, the ruthlessness of it, was appalling. Body parts, belonging to multiple people, most barely recognizable as body parts, littered every surface. That made ehr swallow, and she found she needed to look away. She turned and looked, not at Aidan, who she knew would be fighting his own response to this slaughter. Not at Iov, whose face might otherwise have given her comfort and who she might have turned to even just a day ago.
But to Marthinus, who stood at the top of the steps, gazing down.
"You walked the line," she said, just loudly enough for him to hear.
Looking back at Aidan, she said, "I have seen enough. Thank you for letting me come."
Delicately, she lifted the hem of her skirt and moved past her son and her friend, up to the top of the stairs. She glanced down as she passed Marthinus, hiding her expression, and made her way back out to the front porch of the cabin, where she endeavored not to lose her last meal over the side.
Such senselessness. Her keen senses alert, she could almost smell the fear on each body, or was that her imagination?
There had been more here. It wasn't as they said. Marthinus... Marthinus was the key. His grandfather? She favored him with a curious look.
Behind her, Iov and Aidan exchanged words in low voices, but their quietly spoken tones were not enough to keep her from hearing. She understood the tone of Iov's voice, but he better than all should have known to forbid her something, or tell her "not to." Lily was drawn to the basement, the need to know what had taken place strong within her.
Down the basement steps, ignoring Aidan's voice behind her. The senses which served her even better than the usual wolf were afire. She smelled it before she saw it... not just blood, but internal organs, the leavings of a disemboweling, the offal that resulted. Lily was no stranger to the hunt and the kill. These scents were familiar.
Before stepping off the staircase, before using her eyes, she let the smells assault her once more. This time she picked it out, something almost undetectable underneath the overwhelming scent of the kill.
The order was wrong. Marthinus did not arrive after Ellis and Simon had left, as he claimed. Perhaps he didn't know, perhaps he hadn't understood... some werewolves, most werewolves, wouldn't have been able to pick up the subtle hints, but Lily's senses were above and beyond most.
Marthinus had arrived before Ellis and Simon had gone.
Now she opened her eyes. The carnage in here, the ruthlessness of it, was appalling. Body parts, belonging to multiple people, most barely recognizable as body parts, littered every surface. That made ehr swallow, and she found she needed to look away. She turned and looked, not at Aidan, who she knew would be fighting his own response to this slaughter. Not at Iov, whose face might otherwise have given her comfort and who she might have turned to even just a day ago.
But to Marthinus, who stood at the top of the steps, gazing down.
"You walked the line," she said, just loudly enough for him to hear.
Looking back at Aidan, she said, "I have seen enough. Thank you for letting me come."
Delicately, she lifted the hem of her skirt and moved past her son and her friend, up to the top of the stairs. She glanced down as she passed Marthinus, hiding her expression, and made her way back out to the front porch of the cabin, where she endeavored not to lose her last meal over the side.
The Pipers
16 years ago
"Who threw the first punch?"
LT opened his mouth to answer but Mrs. Xephier moved past everyone, down to the basement. He held back and waited up top for the Alpha to return. He signaled the other Pipers to remove the body bags. Looking up into his Commander's face, he was reassured to see him give him a soft nod. It spoke volumes.
Tell the truth, stand by your word and the CO would never leave him swinging in the wind.
After a few minutes the group returned back upstairs and LT watched Mrs. Xephier move past him and back out to the gravel driveway. The woman had some stones. Turning back to the Alpha, LT approached him and answered his question.
'I engaged Duban and her male.' He took out his modified gun and popped the clip, showing the Alpha the sleep darts. 'But only with these. Piper 5 engaged with their vehicle against orders. I was on foot and wounded.' Unzipping his one piece black field wear he showed his healing but damaged shoulder.
'I notified the CO of Michaels' insubordination and the fact that he was becoming a liability.' That was when Piper 5 had gone rogue, a tell tale sign that the team was feeling the strain of the new city and the weight of the previous failures. LT had an idea of what would happen to the team now. They would undoubtedly be sanctioned, but it was up to the Alpha if he would see the light of another day in this cursed city.
((OOC Still holding out the weapon for the Alpha to examine.))
LT opened his mouth to answer but Mrs. Xephier moved past everyone, down to the basement. He held back and waited up top for the Alpha to return. He signaled the other Pipers to remove the body bags. Looking up into his Commander's face, he was reassured to see him give him a soft nod. It spoke volumes.
Tell the truth, stand by your word and the CO would never leave him swinging in the wind.
After a few minutes the group returned back upstairs and LT watched Mrs. Xephier move past him and back out to the gravel driveway. The woman had some stones. Turning back to the Alpha, LT approached him and answered his question.
'I engaged Duban and her male.' He took out his modified gun and popped the clip, showing the Alpha the sleep darts. 'But only with these. Piper 5 engaged with their vehicle against orders. I was on foot and wounded.' Unzipping his one piece black field wear he showed his healing but damaged shoulder.
'I notified the CO of Michaels' insubordination and the fact that he was becoming a liability.' That was when Piper 5 had gone rogue, a tell tale sign that the team was feeling the strain of the new city and the weight of the previous failures. LT had an idea of what would happen to the team now. They would undoubtedly be sanctioned, but it was up to the Alpha if he would see the light of another day in this cursed city.
((OOC Still holding out the weapon for the Alpha to examine.))
Xeph
16 years ago
Xeph followed Lily back up the stairs, but when she moved toward Marthinus, he broke away to where LT and Brig still stood. LT had had plenty of time now and Xeph was pleased to hear the truth come from the second's lips. He took the offered weapon and examined it. A nasty little piece of work. Effective though, apparently.
Truth, though, didn't keep the anger from bubbling over. Hurt and betrayal were too close to the surface for Xeph. One by one he emptied the remaining darts from the gun and snapped them in two, deliberately, slowly.
"I don't remember ordering anyone to take the Duban woman in for questioning."
His voice was dangerously low, as he continued, to include all of the Pipers present, including Hammer.
"I trust you to hold order. To secure our Pack. I am unaccustomed to the level of stupidity you have displayed in the past forty-eight hours."
His voice was rising, and he was snarling. Calming down was pointless now. He met their eyes in turn; Brig's, LT's, Hammer's, even Marthinus'.
"Do you know the penalty? Did it cross your minds, you Pipers, when you began this insanity, that you put your centuries-old grudge match above the good of the entire Pack?"
The last was roared, fangs bared, impossibly large. Xeph visibly struggled for a moment, unwilling to lose this battle to his Change. Sickened, he threw the gun to the ground. His shoulders slumped.
Endangering the Pack was the worst crime a Kadzait could commit. Xeph had sympathy for the Pipers' plight. He struggled with Liam's inherited memories every day of his life. Memories that told him the Illamar were slaves, inferior, scum, not worthy to be Pack. Generations of those memories backed it up. Every time he saw his own Illamar, he had to fight the urge to sneer, to let rational thought win... but he managed.
"I don't care how you do it, any of you," he snarled, "but you will throw off this bloodlust and learn to get a handle on it before I release you upon Nachton again."
He rubbed his forehead tiredly and turned to Brig. "The Pipers will stand down, effective immediately. You will confine yourselves to Security within the confines of the Den. Choose a team to map that will be able to complete the project with clear minds and run it by me before you send them out."
He looked at Hammer, the pain even more evident in his mismatched eyes. "I will speak with you later. Once this mess is cleaned." He gestured to the cabin.
Grimly, he took them all in once more. "What happened here goes no further. You know the penalty for what you've done, and so help me, I can't act upon it." Kill Hammer? Brig and LT... they were like cousins, or brothers. Hell. Hammer was closer to a father than Liam had ever been. How could he kill them?
And yet, how could he let them run unrestrained in Nachton, until they proved to him they could handle this bloodlust, stifle their inherited memories?
Saddened, he turned away, Lily at his side. "If you need help learning to control yourselves, I am willing." The strain in his voice was evident. Never in all Xeph's life had he been unable to trust the Pipers. They were his backbone, his strength. And now their actions had caused more trouble than he could ever have imagined. His trust was shattered, spread about them like little gristly bits.
He didn't know how to pick them up again.
((ooc: Xeph and Lily out))
Truth, though, didn't keep the anger from bubbling over. Hurt and betrayal were too close to the surface for Xeph. One by one he emptied the remaining darts from the gun and snapped them in two, deliberately, slowly.
"I don't remember ordering anyone to take the Duban woman in for questioning."
His voice was dangerously low, as he continued, to include all of the Pipers present, including Hammer.
"I trust you to hold order. To secure our Pack. I am unaccustomed to the level of stupidity you have displayed in the past forty-eight hours."
His voice was rising, and he was snarling. Calming down was pointless now. He met their eyes in turn; Brig's, LT's, Hammer's, even Marthinus'.
"Do you know the penalty? Did it cross your minds, you Pipers, when you began this insanity, that you put your centuries-old grudge match above the good of the entire Pack?"
The last was roared, fangs bared, impossibly large. Xeph visibly struggled for a moment, unwilling to lose this battle to his Change. Sickened, he threw the gun to the ground. His shoulders slumped.
Endangering the Pack was the worst crime a Kadzait could commit. Xeph had sympathy for the Pipers' plight. He struggled with Liam's inherited memories every day of his life. Memories that told him the Illamar were slaves, inferior, scum, not worthy to be Pack. Generations of those memories backed it up. Every time he saw his own Illamar, he had to fight the urge to sneer, to let rational thought win... but he managed.
"I don't care how you do it, any of you," he snarled, "but you will throw off this bloodlust and learn to get a handle on it before I release you upon Nachton again."
He rubbed his forehead tiredly and turned to Brig. "The Pipers will stand down, effective immediately. You will confine yourselves to Security within the confines of the Den. Choose a team to map that will be able to complete the project with clear minds and run it by me before you send them out."
He looked at Hammer, the pain even more evident in his mismatched eyes. "I will speak with you later. Once this mess is cleaned." He gestured to the cabin.
Grimly, he took them all in once more. "What happened here goes no further. You know the penalty for what you've done, and so help me, I can't act upon it." Kill Hammer? Brig and LT... they were like cousins, or brothers. Hell. Hammer was closer to a father than Liam had ever been. How could he kill them?
And yet, how could he let them run unrestrained in Nachton, until they proved to him they could handle this bloodlust, stifle their inherited memories?
Saddened, he turned away, Lily at his side. "If you need help learning to control yourselves, I am willing." The strain in his voice was evident. Never in all Xeph's life had he been unable to trust the Pipers. They were his backbone, his strength. And now their actions had caused more trouble than he could ever have imagined. His trust was shattered, spread about them like little gristly bits.
He didn't know how to pick them up again.
((ooc: Xeph and Lily out))
Marthinus T. Steyn
16 years ago
"You walked the line."
Marthinus' lost his breath. She caught his eye and called him on his lie to his face. He felt his heart climb up into his throat and threaten to escape, but Lily did not say anything else.
The Alpha read them the riot act, to put it bluntly. The Pipers were sanctioned, threatened and ordered to stand down. Xeph specifically called Hammerthynn out and once the Alpha finished with him, the one eyed Beta looked at Marthinus and mouthed quietly, 'You are with me'. Whatever dressing down the Alpha had planned for Hammerthynn, Marthinus was going to be part of it.
Guiltly Marthinus watched as Lily and the Alpha returned to their car to leave. She gave him a parting look over her shoulder, catching his eye again. Marthinus knew what it meant.
Great.
((OOC - Marthinus out))
Marthinus' lost his breath. She caught his eye and called him on his lie to his face. He felt his heart climb up into his throat and threaten to escape, but Lily did not say anything else.
The Alpha read them the riot act, to put it bluntly. The Pipers were sanctioned, threatened and ordered to stand down. Xeph specifically called Hammerthynn out and once the Alpha finished with him, the one eyed Beta looked at Marthinus and mouthed quietly, 'You are with me'. Whatever dressing down the Alpha had planned for Hammerthynn, Marthinus was going to be part of it.
Guiltly Marthinus watched as Lily and the Alpha returned to their car to leave. She gave him a parting look over her shoulder, catching his eye again. Marthinus knew what it meant.
Great.
((OOC - Marthinus out))
Iov Hammerthynn
16 years ago
Hammerthynn tried to relax the sneer out of his face as the Alpha spoke. He was disappointed in the outcome but it was the shame that was settling down on his shoulders, making a home for itself. The penalty for this type of failure was death; he knew it, Brig knew it, and the Pipers knew it. He supposed he should be grateful that the Alpha wasn't being as malevolent as he should be, but the shame of having to out live these failures was much, much worse.
The Pipers were being sanctioned and under house arrest within the Den. Hammer did not have to look at Brig to see the shame filtering into his face as the Alpha passed his judgement.
"I will speak with you later. Once this mess is cleaned."
Hammer looked over at Marthinus with his one eyed glare. 'You are with me,' he mouthed silently as the Alpha finished and exited with Lily.
Lily. He had no idea why she wanted to see the basement. He would have rather she had not, not out of concern for her delicate welfare, which she was far from, but bearing witness to his shame made the situation one thousand times worse.
As the Alpha and his mother left the cabin, LT signaled for the body bags to be removed. Following everyone out onto the porch he turned to Brig and issued a final command.
'Burn it. All of it, to the fucking ground.'
((OOC - Hammer, Brig and the Pipers out))
Ellis and Simon - Continued in Everyday is Exactly the Same
Hammerthynn - Continued in If
The Pipers were being sanctioned and under house arrest within the Den. Hammer did not have to look at Brig to see the shame filtering into his face as the Alpha passed his judgement.
"I will speak with you later. Once this mess is cleaned."
Hammer looked over at Marthinus with his one eyed glare. 'You are with me,' he mouthed silently as the Alpha finished and exited with Lily.
Lily. He had no idea why she wanted to see the basement. He would have rather she had not, not out of concern for her delicate welfare, which she was far from, but bearing witness to his shame made the situation one thousand times worse.
As the Alpha and his mother left the cabin, LT signaled for the body bags to be removed. Following everyone out onto the porch he turned to Brig and issued a final command.
'Burn it. All of it, to the fucking ground.'
((OOC - Hammer, Brig and the Pipers out))
Ellis and Simon - Continued in Everyday is Exactly the Same
Hammerthynn - Continued in If