《Scales of Life》


 Episode 1: Jaws of Death

    I took the last puff from the blunt I had rolled up moments ago while standing on the ledge of a bridge high above the water. It was in the dead of night, and the rural town of Faytvill was too poor to afford any street lights to illuminate the length of the bridge. The only source of light came from the burning weed, a painkiller to help me with the finale I had been planning since my car¡¯s engine burst into a ball of flames.


    Ever since birth, I¡¯d felt like a burden. I couldn¡¯t tell you who instilled those feelings into me. Maybe it was my neglectful mother or my deadbeat alcoholic father, or maybe the fact I never had any friends, or how both my siblings abandoned the family only to end up in prison or an insane asylum. The writing was on the wall since I opened my eyes. I just couldn¡¯t accept it until now.


    Like everyone who grows up in a dysfunctional household, you try your best to make a name for yourself. Whether it be through college to get a degree, which I tried but couldn¡¯t complete and ended up with $40,000 in debt, or through a lucky break by fleeing those who made your life a living hell. I tried that one too, buying a used car for $3,000 but the engine seized. With the money I had left from the loan I took out for college, I took the old hunk of junk to a mechanic who promised he could fix it for cheaper than buying another used car. Thousands of dollars were gone and still the same result, an ill-fitting head gasket that wasn¡¯t sealed on properly allowed the oil to escape. It finally gave out after I ignored the problem long enough for it to explode. If only the explosion could have left me in that dried-up metal coffin, but instead I survived with nothing but a bag of weed I had purchased with what was left in my savings and a pocket knife I bought for self-defense.


    It had been so long since I¡¯d been high. I¡¯d tried going sober and had gone through three weeks of hellish withdrawals after smoking every day of every hour for years on end. I stopped because I thought I could change my life around. You hear about it in so many stories of people who beat their addiction only to become successful afterward. No one tells you about those who stop, only to find themselves in the same rut they were in when they started. I imagine most of them give up and go back to their addictions or end up killing themselves.


    I couldn¡¯t help, but smile at the predicament I found myself in, staring at the dark waters below me. I knew the fall wasn¡¯t far enough to kill me. Luckily, I had the knife, its serrated blade sharp enough to cut through my thin pale skin. Flipping its black blade out from the handle it was sheathed in, I closed my eyes and slashed a couple of red ribbon scars horizontally across my wrists. I had dreamt about this moment in my sleep which I suppose prepared me for this moment.


    Seconds flew by and I began to lose my balance from the loss of blood. Slowly, I tipped my weightless body over the edge and fell in slow motion. The bridge faded as I plunged into the cool depths below me. Sinking deeper and deeper, the rushing river carried my body across the bank. I wasn¡¯t sure what to expect in the afterlife. Here in the South, there is a lot of talk about almighty God and Heaven. Even if paradise did exist, I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to end up there. It would have to be an awfully big, crowded place to fit all the billions of people that had died in the past.


    No, I wanted to go somewhere that didn¡¯t have anybody. A nice quiet nothingness. That sounded like the perfect place for me, a place with no noise, no conversations with myself, and no burdens to hold onto.


    Why didn¡¯t I do this sooner?


    As I continued to float downstream, I noticed something swimming in the water. At first, I thought it was a large fish coming to see who was making a mess in their river, but as the figure approached, I realized it was much bigger than any fish I had ever seen. I groaned to myself in frustration. If it was a person coming to save me, they were wasting their time. That¡¯s the last thing I wanted to do, waste someone¡¯s time. Just let me die, please.


    Is that too much to ask?


    My eyes widened when the figure reached out with its long scaly arms, its sharp claws grabbing my shirt, pulling me closer to its hideous reptilian snout. It opened its mouth to reveal several rows of pointed serrated teeth and proceeded to chomp down on my left arm and waist. I was paralyzed by the shock of its biting force and lay limp within its jaws.


    The hulking creature thrashed me around in the waters, turning to swim back from whence it came, its prehensile lizard tail helped to propel its weight through the river as it swam toward a tunnel connected to the sewer network that ran beneath all of Faytvill.


    Pulling itself up from the water and into the entrance of the sewers, the creature walked on all fours along the narrow mouth of the tunnels until it could stand upright on its theropod-like hind legs as it entered the extensive labyrinthian maze properly. As a kid, I had been fascinated by the underbelly of the city and spent some days exploring the sewer network, but I always kept close enough to the manhole I had originally crawled in from to avoid getting lost. Stories of alligators lurking in the dark both frightened and excited me, but I could never muster the courage to try and find one on my own.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The beast¡¯s drool dripped along my wounds, coating the cuts with its thick saliva. I was dumbfounded by the fact that I was still alive despite everything that had happened. A sentiment the beast seemed to share as it loosened its grasp on me from the iron-tight grip it had on me in its jaws. I fell into its broad forearms, its claws clasping around my shoulders and legs.


    ¡°You¡¯re still kicking?¡± The beast spoke to me for the first time, its voice raspy, yet oddly feminine.


    At first, I didn¡¯t register what it had said, I was still in awe at the fact I had somehow been rescued from what appeared to be an ancient dinosaur. Perhaps I had died and found myself in the underworld. How naive of me to think that only humans appeared in the afterlife. If the saying all dogs go to Heaven was true, why couldn¡¯t dinosaurs?


    ¡°Shit, if I don¡¯t kill you now, the transformation probably will, after all, you look pretty weak.¡± The creature seemed to have a moral dilemma on whether or not it should put me out of my misery. ¡°Damn, I hate killing people like this, why couldn¡¯t you have just been dead already?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s one!¡± I could hear the sound of some local hillbilly shouting at the top of his lungs followed by the crackling of bullets piercing the air. Without warning the creature dropped me onto the hard cement floor beneath us, slipping into the dirty green waters running through the sewer¡¯s waterway. Above me, the beast vanished into the darkness as its assailants continued to pursue it.


    Floating helpless, I watched as the beast¡¯s saliva began to heal the bite marks and cuts along my skin until a scaly patch had formed over the bloody wounds. I was amazed to find that I could still move, albeit with immense pain shooting through my limbs. I was able to push past it, however, and pull myself out of the murky waters back onto land. My legs were shaky as I found my footing, but I continued to limp away from the sound of the hunters as they chased the monster through its hideout.


    Despite my best attempts to stay mobile, the spine-splitting pain became too much for me to bear any longer, and I collapsed against the wall, stumbling to the ground. I watch in horror as the bones in my arms contorted and twisted. My wrists broke apart, bending my fingers into gnarled claws as my fingernails fused with my skin.


    The metamorphosis I was undergoing extended to my legs as each of my kneecaps rapidly inverted disfiguring my legs. My spine continued to extend past my rear, creating a malformed tail that grew longer with each agonizing second that passed. I realized whatever the beast had done was causing me to transform into a similar version of it. While I hadn¡¯t feared for my life when I decided to end it by slitting my wrists and falling into the water, I was now terrified more than ever to die a slow, torturous death.


    From the darkness, I witnessed another band of hunters pass by, turning the corner of the narrow sewer walkway to find me undergoing a horrendous change. They seemed to take pleasure in my pain as they approached. Whether they were from the same hunting party that had chased the reptilian monster away or a new one, I wasn¡¯t sure.


    ¡°P-p-please...¡± I begged them to help me. I didn¡¯t know how they could help me, but I was in delirium, barely in control of my thoughts and bodily functions.


    A balding, potbellied hick wearing a sweat-stained tank top underneath his blue overalls raised the double-barrel shotgun he was carrying to my head, ¡°I¡¯ll git ya some hel¡¯ rite ¡®ere.¡± He let out a sickening laugh, his finger teasing the trigger.


    I closed my eyes and waited for the bang, but a sudden roar from behind the hunters turned their attention away from me. Out from the pitch blackness, the creature who had rescued me from a watery grave burst from the water, descending upon the rednecks. I opened my eyes to witness the monster tearing the flesh off the limbs of its newly found prey in an instant, leaving nothing but blood and bones behind. The creature burped after it had consumed its last meal before turning to me. Its eyeless face smiled down at me as it leaned over to pick my trembling body up off the ground.


    ¡°W-w-what did y-you do to m-me?¡± It took every fiber in my body to get the words out.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re familiar with the werewolf myths and legends right?¡± the beast shrugged with the shoulder I wasn¡¯t hunched over. I muttered an affirmation in response, but I must have been unintelligible because the creature continued to explain.


    ¡°Similar thing, you survived my bite long enough to become infected, and if you survive long enough, you¡¯ll mutate into a hybrid like me. Don¡¯t worry, about losing your good looks.¡± The beast let out a roaring laughter. ¡°Hybrids can shapeshift at will, switching between their human, and monster form. After a while the body adjusts to the pain, the first time shifting is always the worst.¡±


    I wanted to ask the creature what its name was, but the process of transforming sent another surge of unbearable pain through my body.


    ¡°I suggest taking it easy until we get you some help from my broodmates,¡± the hybrid advised. ¡°Alice, the wise woman of the brood, is in charge of administering a salve that will help with the final stages of the transformation. Not to scare you, or anything, but you¡¯re still going through the first stage. It only gets worse from here.¡±


    The hybrid let out another fit of laughter before apologizing, ¡°Sorry, I guess I¡¯m not really good at this sort of thing. For what it¡¯s worth, I do hope you survive. Considering you¡¯ve survived this long, I bet you¡¯d be a great addition to the brood. If you survive, look for a woman named Vixy, that¡¯s my name.¡±


    ¡°T-thanks.¡± Was all I could muster saying before falling unconscious as Vixy carried me into the long darkness.

 Episode 2: The Hive

    Episode 2: The Hive


    "Do you know what you''ve done Vixy!?" I could hear an unfamiliar gravelly voice, yelling over me. I groaned as I shifted my weight on the stone slab that I laid on.


    "I thought he was dead, Kaine!" A familiar voice shouted back in response. Two people were arguing above me as I slipped in and out of consciousness. "He was supposed to be an easy meal for the hatchlings, but I was ambushed by hunters before I could put him out of his misery."


    "So you decided to let the transformation complete? What are we supposed to do with an untrained, undisciplined, unknown werescale? You could''ve killed him while he was undergoing the first stage of the metamorphosis, but instead, you let him live? Where are we going to house him? How are we going to feed him?" The other voice roared angrily.


    They continued to bicker amongst themselves until another voice spoke over them, "Get out now! Both of you! The newcomer is still in the process of the transformation and you''re arguing is disturbing his rest! If you want to throw a tantrum then do it outside!"


    "As you wish, Alice," Kaine replied, still scornful of my presence. The two left us alone as the sound of their footsteps grew more distant.


    I rolled my head from side to side, attempting to open my eyes but I couldn''t lift my eyelids. Everything was pitch black. Afraid, I opened my mouth to cry out for help, but all that came out was a weak hiss.


    "Don''t fret my dear," A soothing voice consoled me as a hand rubbed the back of my head in an attempt to calm me down.


    "I... can''t... see..." It took strenuous effort to form the words I wanted to say. My voice and cadence were totally off, foreign to how I originally spoke. For a second, I wondered if I had even spoken at all or if it was just a figment of my imagination.


    "That''s because you have no eyes, newcomer. You''re a werescale now. You see through the radiation of light, heat, sound, and the vibrations of your surroundings. It''ll take some time to adjust, but I''ll be here to help." The woman explained as she rubbed something cold along my arms and chest.


    "I''ve made a healing salve that will ease your wounds. I''ve already fed you a numbing agent to help your body through the final stages of the metamorphosis, but it won''t negate all the pain. However, if the ancestors deem your life worthy, you''ll survive with all your faculties intact."


    "I... hope... I''m not... getting you into trouble." Although it was awkward to talk with a mouthful of long, sharp teeth, I was beginning to adapt well enough to form proper sentences.


    "Trouble for what? You didn''t ask for this." Alice sighed, "Don''t worry about Kaine, he''s just scared of the brood being exposed to the public and the consequences of it. It''s his job to be paranoid and defensive."


    "What''s going to happen to me, now?" I questioned. "Am I a member of your brood?"


    Alice didn''t say anything for a while, "According to the traditions of the brood, you''re an initiate who still has to prove yourself. You''ll undergo a trial by combat when the elder Rumorey and I deem you fit enough to fight. If you succeed in the trial, you''ll be accepted as a full member."


    "And if I fail?" I asked.


    "You''ll be killed." Alice said bluntly, "It''s necessary to maintain the integrity of the brood. Food is scarce and we can''t risk supporting a werescale who can''t fight for themselves."


    I swallowed hard. The last time I had been in anything close to a fight was in high school when I joined the wrestling team. I didn''t last long before being pulled out by the coach after throwing up during every practice.


    "Who am I fighting?" I pressed her for more information.


    "Kaine, he''s the captain of the brood guard. He''s responsible for raising the hatchlings into trained fighters. They undergo intensive combat and hunting trials for years before reaching the age where they must prove themselves in the arena pit. He''s been fighting ever since I was a young apprentice to the previous wise woman." Alice explained. "I''m eighty now."


    "So, why help me then?" I scoffed. "If I have to fight a veteran who''s been fighting way before I was even conceived. Seems pointless to waste the resources doesn''t it?"


    I watched the outline of Alice''s frail reptilian body shrug. My senses were beginning to adapt to my new form. Everything was turning blue with splotches of red and yellow from warmer sections of the environment.


    "It''s my job to tend to the wounded and sick. Whether you''re a member of the brood or not, I must fulfill my duty while I''m capable of doing so. It''s the code of the shaman, or so my mentor told me."The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    I sat up from the slab while grasping my head with my clawed hands. Silently, I observed my surroundings. It appeared we were in some sort of makeshift hovel made of brick and mortar. Alice was standing over a table, mixing ingredients together to prepare another batch of healing salve. The sound of water dripping from the ceiling echoed throughout the small chamber.


    After she had finished pounding what appeared to be a mixture of insects and leaves with her fists, she turned and approached me with a bowl full of freshly made paste. Covering her palms with the salve, she spread it along my scaly hide. "Your fate rests within the jaws of the ancestors now, Rumorey will need to see you soon."


    "Who are the ancestors? Unless you know something I don''t, none of my ancestors were ever hybrids."


    Alice chuckled, "No they most likely were not. Yet, the blood of the brood flows through your veins, now. Therefore, you share the same ancestors as mine and every other werescale. Even if Kaine doesn''t consider you one of ours."


    I pondered on her words for a brief moment before asking another question. "How did you guys find your way down here? How long has the brood been living in these sewers?"


    "For a long, long time," Alice explained while applying the final touches to my wounds. "We come from a werescale only referred to as the Solitary Hunter in the legends. He was the first hybrid of our kind who roamed the swamps of the surface world. He was unmatched in his ability to stalk and kill his prey, but eventually met his match. A woman from a local tribe of hunter-gatherers challenged him to a duel. The two fought and chased each other for weeks, with neither of them able to gain the upper hand on each other. Eventually, the woman was able to best him by laying a trap which the Solitary Hunter became caught inside of. However, she had to use herself as bait to entice the werescale and was struck by him as a result. Eventually, she underwent the mutation in the same way you experienced. When it was complete, she realized that she could never return to her tribe and let the Solitary Hunter go. The two grew a fondness for each other, and became close companions who raised several broods together."


    The wise woman looked over her handiwork, satisfied with her skills as a healer. "Yet, despite their talent for killing, they eventually met the same fate as the thousands of prey they stalked together. Humanity discovered better ways to defend themselves against the hybrids roaming the forests, plains, swamps, and every other corner of the globe. Now the only hybrids left are those who seclude themselves in the parts of the world where humans haven''t yet conquered or refuse to explore."


    "So what does the brood do to survive then?"


    "Whatever we must do to keep living," Alice spoke solemnly. "We are the prey and they the hunters. We hold no power on Earth any longer. What we do is dictated by those who nearly killed you and Vixy. Scouting parties are sent out to search for whatever food we can find, but often barely bring back enough food to feed the brood. Our ability to shift into humans only allows us to get so far. We are not as socialized as you are with your fellow humankind and struggle to maintain regular jobs to make money for purchasing food. Many hatchlings grow up without the ability to read or write, preferring to communicate with animal noises rather than human speech. They are unable to adapt to the modern world''s needs to find success."


    Another awkward silence passed before Alice was struck with a coughing fit.


    "Are you okay? Can I do anything to help you?" I asked, reaching my hand out to grab her shoulder. She batted my palm away before I could touch her, however.


    "Thank you, but I''ll be fine." She smiled while sputtering, "It''s a sign of old age, there is nothing you can do about it." Her toothy grin faded when she spoke again after regaining control, "It''s time for me to take you to the elder''s chamber. Follow me."


    Alice led me through the twisting maze of the brood''s territory which she called the Hive. It contained various chambers, each with a specific function. There was the mess hall where the brood cooked and prepared their meals. The hatchery, where eggs were kept until the young inside were old enough to break out of their shells. The barracks were where the older werescales slept and planned their daily routines. Many other sectors existed, but Alice didn''t have the time to show me every corner of the Hive.


    At the elder''s chambers, I was greeted by Kaine, the captain of the brood guard who stood with his arms crossed at the foot of the elder''s throne. He wasn''t excited to see me but kept cordial enough. Rumorey, however, was more welcoming to my presence. A row of protruding horns beneath his chin gave him the appearance of sporting a beard, matching his title and age as the longest-living member of the brood.


    "Welcome newcomer," he bowed his head toward me. "I''m sure all of this is very confusing to you. I hope our illustrious wise woman has been able to alleviate some of that confusion." Rumorey bowed his head toward Alice who couldn''t hide her smile despite her best efforts. Their snouts remained pointed at each other for a while before the elder turned his head back toward me.


    "Yes, your... eldest," I floundered my words, trying to be respectful, but ultimately unfamiliar with the titles and customs.


    Kaine snorted but said nothing. Rumorey seemed to find humor in my attempt to be humbly respectful.


    "You may call me by my name, Rumorey, but I appreciate the sentiment," he laughed. "And what is your name, newcomer?"


    "Seth, sir," I responded.


    "Well, Seth, our hatchlings must undergo many trials and tribulations before they are allowed to become a fully recognized member of the brood. Unfortunately, we do not have the time nor the resources to spare for a full-grown newcomer. As such, you will have to prove yourself in the pits with Kaine. Your background as a human could prove useful to us for navigating the surface, but it would be unfair to those who have dedicated their lives to proving their worth if you did not perform the same trial by combat that we all went through to become members of the brood." Rumorey explained with a hint of sadness and regret in his shaky voice.


    "I understand," I acquiesced.


    Rumorey nodded his head, "You will have half an hour to prepare yourself for combat." The old werescale produced an hourglass from his cloak marked with various symbols to indicate the amount of time that has passed.


    He placed the hourglass down on the armrest of his throne made of stone before speaking again. "For what it''s worth, I do wish you well in the arena, Seth. I take no pleasure in seeing death come to those before their time."

 Episode 3: Trial by Combat

    Stepping through the tunnel entrance, I found myself standing across from Kaine as we entered the center of the arena pit. An audience of werescales watched us from the bleachers above where the brood members were all cheering for Kaine. Vixy sat quietly by herself on the far end while those surrounding her were jumping up and down excitedly to witness their captain eviscerate me. Rumorey and Alice sat in a specialized booth that extended past the bleachers, giving them a better view of the fight.


    My heart was beating ninety to nothing, making me dizzy. I feared it might explode before the battle even began. Kaine on the other hand, was the perfect depiction of cool and confident. He leered at me with a stone-cold gaze that appeared to watch my every move. I was certain he could see my nervous twitching. The anxiety I exuded was palpable.


    ¡°The rules for the fight are simple!¡± Shouted from his throne. The audience immediately went silent as they waited in anticipation. ¡°The two combatants must fight each other until the other either gives up or dies! If the newcomer wins, he is granted acceptance into the brood! However, if Kaine wins, Seth will have to face his ancestors in the afterlife!¡±


    The crowd roared with excitement, chanting Kaine¡¯s name.


    ¡°You may begin!¡± Rumorey sounded a horn, signaling that the battle had begun.


    Instantly, Kaine charged me, his hulking body throwing itself toward mine. I was caught off guard by his speed, believing someone as big as him wouldn¡¯t be nimble. My underestimation nearly cost me that match as I narrowly dodged the forked horns protruding from his naturally armored skull.


    Rolling along the cement flooring, I attempted to find my footing to stand up, but Kaine had already redirected his charge and caught me with a nasty uppercut from his massive claws, sending me flying across the arena into a nearby wall. Debris and dust surrounded the air around me as I pulled myself out of the rubble. First blood had been drawn as I tasted copper on my tongue. A dribble of the dark red liquid escaped the corners of my mouth as more of it pooled below me on the ground from the gashes along my throat.


    The crowd frenzied upon the sight of blood. In their minds, they had already decided the victor.


    I stood up from where I had collapsed, leaning against the wall for support. Kaine was already preparing for another charge, his horns aimed right at my chest. He was going for the kill, but I reacted in the nick of time using what I had learned from my days as a wrestler in high school.


    Bracing for impact by placing my tail in front of my exposed torso, I let the bulky werescale slam his head into me. Despite the pain, I was able to wrap my arms underneath his arms, stopping him from grabbing me, while also controlling his upper body. In shock, Kaine tried to headbutt me in retaliation, but as he removed his horns from my tail, I was able to wrap the tip around his neck.


    The two of us wrestled for control, he tried to knock me off, but I had flattened the top of my feet against the pavement so that he couldn¡¯t pick me up, nor could he push me down. Tightening the grip of my tail around his throat, I watched as he desperately struggled in my grasp. Yet, as I was too focused on his head, I neglected to keep an eye on his tail. Without warning, he swung his spiked tail at the side of my skull, bashing it against the wall.


    My grip loosened from the impact, giving him the opportunity to slip from my clutches. He balled his right fist, attempting to crush my skull, but I ducked just in time and he pummeled the brick wall next to me. This time, I grabbed his giant leg and nailed his stomach with a shoulder tackle while sweeping his other leg out from under him. He tumbled to the ground, sputtering for air.


    Using the opportunity to my advantage, I tried to snap his ankles by bending his foot while holding his right leg in my hands, but he recovered faster than I had anticipated. With a sudden kick in the stomach, he sent me flying back into the wall with the force of a semi-truck. My head slammed hard against the brick, leaving me dazed and confused as he stood up.


    He stumbled forward, still recovering from my attempt to break his foot, but I couldn¡¯t stand up in time to face him as he lifted both his fists together to smash them into my skull. Thinking quickly, I forced the palm of my foot into his kneecap to offset his footing while leaning to the right. Although he missed my head, the force of his slam struck my shoulder and collarbone, shattering them into pieces. We both cried out in agony.


    However, Kaine was a veteran and was used to fighting past the pain. Grabbing me by my chest and pelvis, he lifted me into the air while roaring. He spun my weight around in a circle, displaying his dominance as the crowd screamed in excitement. Satisfied with their cheers, he slammed the side of my ribs into his knee. The impact sent a sudden shock of intense pain throughout my entire body, breaking bones in the process. I coughed up in blood as shards of my ribcage tore through my vital organs.


    He attempted to pull off another body slam, but the damage I had inflicted on his leg from earlier finally took its toll on him. His footing grew shaky, along with his hold on me. In a desperate attempt to save my life, I struck the back of his head with my tail, using what little energy I had left. The blow was enough to knock him off balance and we both fell to the ground below.


    Yet, Kaine had certainly hurt me more than I had hurt him. Gathering his strength, he pulled himself off the ground, kneeling next to me. Clasping his hands around my throat, he attempted to strangle me to death. I tried to fight back, but the multiple blows I had suffered to my head along with my shattered rib cage had nearly incapacitated me. Certain that death was coming, but unwilling to give up, I spat a lob of blood at his face causing him to loosen his grip as he flinched. Opening my mouth as wide as I could, I slipped my bottom jaw under his right hand and chomped down on his fingers.


    He screamed in pain but tried to shake me off, but I refused to let go. No matter how hard he slammed the back of my head against the ground, my iron grip persisted.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Rumorey shouted at the top of his lungs. The crowd went dead silent. I released my bite from Kaine¡¯s hands and he fell back, rubbing the wounds I had inflicted while turning his gaze toward the leader of the brood.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen enough,¡± Rumorey smiled.


    ¡°Why did you call off the fight?¡± Kaine stood up, his leg wobbling from the weight of his bulk. ¡°I was about to kill him!¡±


    Rumorey looked toward Alice who whispered something to the elder, but I couldn¡¯t hear what she had said.


    ¡°The newcomer has shown a great deal of defiance and capability for someone who has only just become aware of our brood not too long ago. His fighting prowess was enough to impress me and even caused you to resort to unfavorable tactics. You should know better than to strangle a fellow werescale, even if he is not of our brood. No one deserves such a slow and dishonorable death.¡± Rumorey glared at Kaine as the captain bowed his head in shame.


    ¡°However!¡± Rumorey held his fist in the air as the audience grew into an uproar. Yet, the elder¡¯s booming voice was able to silence them. ¡°The newcomer technically did not fulfill the trial¡¯s requirements to pass. After consulting with our shaman, I have decided that Seth will undertake another trial. If he succeeds then he will be accepted into the Hive, otherwise, he will be personally executed by me.¡±


    ¡°A second trial?¡± Someone in the trial asked in confusion. Murmurs grew amongst the brood as there had never been another trial to become a full member past the arena.


    ¡°What do you suggest, Rumorey?¡± Kaine questioned, his wounds had already begun to heal allowing him to stand straighter. Even the pain I had undergone was slowly beginning to subside as the internal bleeding stopped. Scabs were already forming along the gashes in my neck and chin created by Kaine¡¯s claws.


    Rumorey tapped his claws on the edge of his seat, considering what should be done with me before speaking. ¡°The newcomer was unfortunately caught and infected by one of our own. He never asked to become one of us and so I will entrust him with the werescale who brought him to us.¡± The old hybrid turned his snout toward Vixy who had been sitting with her arms crossed the entire time.


    ¡°Vixy will be his mentor for the second trial.¡± Everyone turned their heads toward her.


    For a second, what the elder had said didn¡¯t register with her, until she noticed everyone looking at her. ¡°Me?¡± she asked surprised, pointing her index finger at herself.


    Rumorey nodded his head, his decision final. ¡°Together, the both of you will investigate the hunters above us. Their attacks have gotten bolder as we continue to grow our numbers. It is only a matter of time before they bring their full force to our hallowed halls. We must be ready for them, and so I¡¯m entrusting you two to find where they gather, and to remind them why humankind once feared us.¡±


    Vixy didn¡¯t say anything for a while, but finally responded in affirmation, ¡°If you deem it, then it shall be.¡± She spoke begrudgingly.


    ¡°Yes, it is...¡± Rumorey turned his gaze back toward Alice who sat next to him. The corners of her mouth were upturned in a grin. ¡°Now!¡± The elder yelled ¡°All fully-fledged members of the brood, return to the mess hall! We will have a celebration for the wonderful showing by both combatants!¡±


    Despite the weariness of the crowd before, the exclamation from Rumorey of celebrating whipped them into a cheering roar. The brood members filed out of the colosseum and back into the halls of the sewers. Kaine left with them through the entrance he had emerged from when the battle began. He didn¡¯t speak a single word to me as I continued to lie on the ground.


    I laid there for some time before Vixy¡¯s visage loomed over me. ¡°I¡¯ve been instructed, by Alice, to bring you back to the infirmary.¡± She spoke with a touch of annoyance in her voice.


    Unsure of what to say, I let her tuck my arm over her shoulder so that she could pick me up. Slowly, the two of us walked back toward the entrance of the tunnels ahead.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry you have to do this,¡± I said, wincing as the pain from earlier returned. Every step and action I took seemed to flair up my wounds.


    ¡°If you apologize again, I¡¯m going to drop you,¡± Vixy said without emotion.


    Perhaps it was the agony I was suffering in, or maybe it was something else, but her coldness struck a chord within me. Growing angry, I snapped at her, ¡°First you saved me after I tried to kill myself, and then you saved me from those rednecks in the sewers, and now you¡¯re helping me walk after nearly being killed again. Time after time, you keep helping me, even if neither of us wants it! Why?¡±


    Vixy pushed me to the ground. I cried out in shock and pain from the hard fall onto the pavement below.


    ¡°Crawl then! If you despise being a burden, crawl back to Alice yourself! You selfish prick!¡± She stared down at me.


    I tried to move my arms to pull myself forward, but I was still exhausted from the fight and ended up flopping around like a fish out of water.


    ¡°If you keep acting like dead weight, I¡¯m going to treat you like it.¡± Vixy folded her arms, her tone of voice impartial. ¡°Here in the Hive, it¡¯s expected that we help each other out without question. It¡¯s what makes us family down here! Get that through your dense skull already! Do I personally want to be responsible for you? No, not at all, but I do it because I care just enough. This attitude you have toward yourself is indicative of a lifelong struggle deep inside you and it''s going to rub off on me. I will not allow that, but I can¡¯t help you with whatever is going on inside your head. This constant woe is me bullshit is only making me despise you more. Constantly apologizing for everything isn¡¯t going to make anything better!¡± By now Vixy¡¯s tone had risen from empathetic to an all-out hate-filled scream.


    I couldn¡¯t look at her as I felt ashamed of myself, ¡°I¡¯m...¡± I was about to apologize again but stopped myself. Instead, I reached out with my hand for her to take, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± I finally said, ¡°Will you help me walk back to the infirmary?¡±


    Vixy snorted, but she eventually grabbed my arm and lifted me back to my feet again. We didn¡¯t speak another word the entire trip. She sat me down on the stone slab I had awoken from when I was still undergoing the final stages of the hybrid transformation.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back tomorrow morning,¡± Vixy said bluntly before leaving.


    I sat quietly for a moment until Alice approached me from the table where she had been mixing her healing salve. She rubbed the paste along the parts of my body that Kaine had scratched and bruised.


    ¡°How do you make this stuff?¡± I asked her after she was finished.


    Seemingly surprised I would even inquire about it, she eventually explained in between fits of coughing and wheezing, ¡°It¡¯s made from the larvae of several insects which we find in the cracks of walls. Along with some nightshade that our scouts gather from the surface. Grinding the ingredients together creates a paste that would normally be poisonous to humans, but our kind has evolved in a way that speeds up our natural regeneration.¡±


    I nodded as I listened intently. After she was finished, I asked her another question, ¡°Do you have another apprentice already? Considering how sick you are from age, shouldn¡¯t you be teaching someone else what you know?¡±


    Alice shrugged, ¡°Kaine and Rumorey believe the brood needs more fighters due to growing tensions between the humans and other werebeasts. Plus, no one is forced to become a shaman, so no one takes interest. I might be the last of the wise women in the brood.¡±


    ¡°Why did you become a wise woman?¡± I inquired earnestly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me right now, dear.¡± She smiled, ¡°You should rest for tomorrow¡¯s trial. Ancestors willing, you¡¯ll come back to me in one piece.¡±


    After we exchanged goodbyes, I let the back of my head relax against the stone slab. I was more tired than I had realized, instantly falling asleep.

 Episode 4: The Lodge

    I pushed through the mouth of the sewer tunnel which led outside into the cold air of the early morning. The sun had barely risen over the forested eastern hills, its rays reflecting off the river gently flowing from which the sewer water merged.


    Vixy stood in front, her back facing toward me as I followed through the thorny brush into the nearby woods. She had awoken me about half an hour ago for my second trial. It would be my final attempt to become a fully-fledged member of the werescale brood. The two of us had only exchanged a few words since she woke me up.


    ¡°We¡¯ll need to be quick,¡± she said as we walked through the river bed and into the treeline. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous to walk around in broad daylight this time of year. The locals like to hunt for food and sport.¡±


    ¡°Where do you suggest we go first?¡± I pondered aloud. Vixy tilted her snout upward, letting the wind pass through her large nostrils.


    ¡°I can smell the scent of some humans not too far from us.¡± She took another whiff before speaking again, ¡°Could be campers, or possibly some teenagers, but it¡¯s worth checking out. Every month, or so, we¡¯ve had stragglers wander through the sewers who come dangerously close to discovering our hive. An uptick compared to previous years. Rumorey and Kaine believe a band of hunters have built a lodge somewhere not too far from the sewer entrances. If that¡¯s the case, then we need to find a way to destroy it. Send a message not to come here.¡±


    I nodded in response but didn¡¯t say anything. Together, we continued to explore the forest surrounding us, skulking through the trees under the cover of dawn. A rolling fog had settled in, aiding us in our mission to remain hidden from any threats. After a while, Vixy gestured me to halt in place as the human scent grew stronger.


    She turned her head toward me and whispered, ¡°We need to shift into our human forms before we get any closer. We don¡¯t want to scare them, yet.¡±


    ¡°How do I¡­ turn back from this?¡± I asked, unsure of where to even begin the process.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be uncomfortable at first, but you¡¯ll get used to it. Imagine yourself from a third-person perspective, like looking in the mirror, almost as if you¡¯re dissociating.¡± Vixy explained, pausing for a second as she focused her mental energy, reverting from her monstrous reptilian form to that of a regular human.


    For a moment, I struggled to picture what I had looked like. Despite transforming only a couple of days ago, it felt as if a lifetime had passed since I had been human. Thinking hard, I pictured my lanky body, my delicate face smooth masculine jaw, and pointed chin. My sunken green eyes stared back at me from the reflection I had crafted within my mind. Slowly, I could feel myself shrinking, changing back to who I once was.


    I opened my eyes again for the first time in a while, seeing the vibrant dark greens of the leaves and the deep blues of the flowing river. Blinking, my vision slowly adjusted to the light surrounding me. Eventually, my gaze fell upon Vixy, who stood a foot shorter than me, her brown eyes analyzing me as she looked me up and down.


    My eyes widened when I realized that we were both naked. Her short and plump body lay in contrast to my bony skintight flesh. Her long violet-colored hair was cut just above her shoulders while mine was cut short, with the exception of a few dangling strands that waved in the wind before falling back over my eyes. I could feel my face burning hot upon seeing her as a human for the first time.


    ¡°We¡¯ll need to remain quiet, but we should be able to approach without fear of being shot at least.¡± Vixy reasoned as she turned her gaze away from me. Her soft, feminine features were completely different from her appearance as a werescale, but I tried not to think about it and remained focused on the task at hand.


    Pushing through several bushes, we came to a small campsite, spotting two relatively young males dressed in camouflage. They were sitting next to a campfire with a silver pot over it. It appeared as if they were cooking an early morning meal while out on patrol. Vixy pulled me behind the cover of a tree in the nick of time before one of the hunters could spot us.


    ¡°Did you notice the patch on their uniform?¡± She whispered, her husky voice. Her warm breath blew against my face as she pressed me tightly against her. I could feel myself getting hotter the longer we lingered behind the shaded cover of the giant tree trunk.


    ¡°N-no,¡± I stammered, trying to remain calm. ¡°I didn¡¯t get a chance before you pulled me away.¡± I kept my gaze locked with hers, but I couldn¡¯t help, but glance down at her round bosom. She rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t say anything. The two of us waited as the hunters talked amongst themselves.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe John made us get up this early just to patrol these woods. Ain¡¯t anything out here to be worried about.¡± One of them grumbled to the other.


    ¡°Yeah, the Preacher¡¯s just paranoid, but he pays well at least, plus that cabin he built out here¡¯s got a nice roof over it. It ain¡¯t too bad out here, but these uniforms sure don¡¯t play with the humidity well.¡± The other said to his partner.


    ¡°Paranoid¡¯s right. Did you hear ¡®em talkin¡¯ about devil spawn livin¡¯ under the town in the sewers? Crazy stuff, I¡¯m telling you. A part of me thinks he¡¯s just finding an excuse to use that church money the townsfolk donate him to get free vacations. I mean there ain¡¯t no way a preacher can afford a nice lodge like that on his own.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s got a nice job, I mean how much do you really know about Preacher John? Ain¡¯t like you grew up with the guy. He keeps to himself for the most part, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s all in God''s plan. Plus, like I said, the fact we¡¯re getting paid to hunt imaginary boogeymen is enough to keep me quiet. This is by far the easiest gig I ever got.¡±


    While the two continued to talk amongst themselves, Vixy had peeked behind the trunk of the tree to get a better view of the two hunters.


    ¡°They¡¯re distracted, if we act quickly enough, you and I can take them before they can grab their rifles. I¡¯ll take the one on the left, and you take the right.¡± Vixy ordered.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    I attempted to tell her that I had never killed anyone in my life, but before I could object she jumped out from behind our cover, shifting into her werescale form. Without hesitation, I followed her, picturing myself as the wicked beast I had become only a couple of nights ago.


    Vixy descended on her target, tearing him into shreds before he could fight back. Swiftly, I lunged for the hunter on the right, pinning him to the ground. He screamed in terror as he struggled beneath my claws. I leered at him, unsure of how best to kill him. A feeling of nausea fell over me as I pressed my weight against him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this,¡± I said aloud. ¡°Tell me where your preacher¡¯s lodge is and I¡¯ll let you go.¡±


    ¡°I-it¡¯s just n-north of here!¡± The hunter screeched. He soiled his trousers from the fear of being eaten alive.


    ¡°How many humans live there?¡± Vixy stepped to the right of me, peering down at the wailing human beneath her.


    ¡°I dunno! M-m-maybe fifteen o-o-or twenty? I dunno! I dunno! Now let me go! I won¡¯t tell a soul I swear!¡± He was full-blown crying.


    I turned my gaze upward toward Vixy, ¡°Anything else?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s all I need to know.¡± Without hesitation she slammed her tail on top of the man¡¯s head, crushing his skull and killing him instantly. Squirting blood and bits of brain matter flew into my mouth. Immediately, I began coughing it up, nearly vomiting.


    ¡°Why did you do that?¡± I sputtered before regaining my composure. ¡°He told us what we needed, we didn¡¯t have to kill him!¡±


    Vixy shrugged, ¡°He would¡¯ve run back to his buddies and warned them. We couldn¡¯t take that risk or it might have put our mission in jeopardy.¡±


    ¡°How could you possibly know that?¡± I screamed at Vixy while wiping the blood from my face.


    Vixy paused, letting a brief silence fall over us before she sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not just that¡­¡±


    Another moment of silence.


    ¡°Well?¡± I pushed for an answer.


    Her nose twitched in frustration from being verbally prodded. ¡°There are several reasons why you want to kill a human! If you don¡¯t, they could turn like you did, and plus, it¡¯s food¡­¡±


    I stared at her for a long while before she shapeshifted back into her human form. ¡°Here,¡± she said as she undressed the hunter¡¯s corpse. ¡°Put their uniforms on. It¡¯ll give us a better chance at sneaking in undetected.¡±


    I stood motionless for a moment. My body was trembling, but I didn¡¯t quite know how to react so I just did as I was told. Vixy¡¯s brutality made me question my allegiance to the brood and to her, but for now, I kept silent on the matter.


    After getting dressed in our disguises, I suggested hiding the bodies, but Vixy shook her head, insisting that she would dispose of them in her own way. I did my best to ignore the disgusting sounds of her chowing down on the bones of the innocents.


    I snuffed out the flames of the bonfire and did my best to rid the campsite of any evidence that we or anyone else had been there. Once Vixy was satisfied that no one would be able to discover what we had done here, we continued northward in search of the lodge.


    It was a while before we spoke again, but I figured some conversation would help distract me from what I had witnessed.


    ¡°Do you know what¡¯s wrong with Alice?¡± I asked spontaneously.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Vixy responded.


    ¡°She¡¯s always coughing and she looks much weaker compared to Kaine or Rumorey,¡± I shrugged. ¡°She said it was due to her age, which I believed at first, but if that¡¯s the case, then why isn¡¯t every other member of the brood who is around the same age showing similar symptoms?¡±


    Vixy didn¡¯t answer right away, instead, she took some time to ponder. ¡°A hybrid has the potential to live to be a hundred and fifty if they play their cards right. Rarely do they live that long, but it is possible. You¡¯re very perceptive to notice her condition.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not answering the question,¡± I replied, pushing for more information.


    ¡°Long ago, before I was born,¡± Vixy began. ¡°The brood had to tunnel underground to survive. From what I understand, we used to live top-side but were forced underground by humanity and a tribe of nomadic werewolves who possibly still control some portion of these lands, albeit they haven¡¯t made their presence known for some time, but that¡¯s beside the point¡­¡±


    She paused for a second to smell the air, trying to detect the scent of any threat before continuing. ¡°Anyway, Kaine, Alice, and Rumorey were the brood¡¯s strongest fighters, who relied on Orua, the wise woman and elder of the brood of that time, to heal their wounds as well as lead them to safety. At the time, they found the sewers to be the only place where they could avoid their enemies until they could recoup and reclaim the lands given to them by our ancestors. However, another group of hybrids had already claimed the territory.¡±


    Vixy took a moment to catch her breath before continuing the story. ¡°A clan of werevermin already lived deep in the tunnels of the sewers and they were not pleased with our brood moving into their homeland. Without warning, they ambushed the werescales and the brood found itself in another conflict. This time, however, we refused to leave, knowing we would face a slow death via extinction if we did not fight. So a war between the werescales and werevermins broke out beneath the city of Faytvill. Despite the numbers advantage the vermin had, our fighters were stronger and better disciplined. Alice, along with Kaine, fought tooth and nail to beat back the tide of swarming ratmen from our encampment until they surrendered during one fateful battle. Kaine was badly injured during the fight but survived relatively unscathed. Orua and Rumorey were content with the werevermin¡¯s surrender, but Alice sought total annihilation. She led a small squad deep into the depths of the sewers against Orua¡¯s wishes to eradicate the ratmen¡¯s nest and was ultimately successful. Yet, her victory was not without major sacrifices. She was the only one to return from her squad and was critically injured from the excursion. Orua did what she could to keep Alice alive, but the wounds she suffered at the hands of the werevermin horde had left her permanently disabled. After the war had ended, Alice could no longer fight and was forced to become a medicine woman in order to provide assistance to the brood. After all, our traditions do not permit us to keep useless members who cannot provide for themselves and others.¡±


    Vixy stood near the edge of a small hill that overlooked a clearing where the hunters had built their wooden cabin from the trees they had cut down nearby. The sun had risen above the mountains to the east, its light bathing the gardens beneath it. The fog had also lifted from the area giving us a clear line of sight of the area. I could see several guards digging up mounds of dirt with shovels to clear uneven paths around the perimeter to make for easier traversal. There were also farmers outside tending to the crops and animals, carrying various tools and buckets filled with water. It appeared that a whole community of people was being brought out to the lodge to work the lands and construct new buildings.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to turn this place into a slaughterhouse,¡± Vixy whispered to me with a smile.


    I swallowed hard and couldn¡¯t help but feel my heart sinking into the pits of my stomach. My gut told me something terrible was looming on the horizon.

 Episode 5: Cabin in the Woods

    Vixy dashed toward the back of the cabin after a small patrol of guards had passed by. We had been waiting for a while as the sun slowly began to set over the western hills. The routes each group of hunters took were easy to memorize from the vantage point we had along the treeline. We had been staking out the place for hours, passing the time by creeping through bushes to look for any way to cause maximum mayhem to Faytvill¡¯s local hunters who had carved out a clearing in the nearby forest for hunting, gathering, and farming.


    While circling the perimeter, I noticed a fenced-off area connected to the back of the lodge, however, small cracks in the wooden boards revealed a generator that powered the cabin¡¯s lights and other utilities inside. From the pocket of her stolen uniform that we retrieved from the two guards we had killed earlier, Vixy found a lighter with some fuel still left in it. The plan was to sneak past the guards, hop the fence, and drop the lighter into the generator¡¯s gas tank. With some luck, we¡¯d have enough time to escape before the hunters¡¯ compound exploded in a ball of flames.


    Following my companion¡¯s movements, I traced her steps until we were both leaning against the fence post obstructing us from the generator.


    ¡°Here, give me a boost and I¡¯ll open the gate from the inside,¡± Vixy ordered. Without question, I bent down and cupped my hands for her to rest her boot on. Using all my strength, I propelled her upward to reach the top of the fence so that she could slide over. After she landed on the other side, she fulfilled her promise by unlatching the fence gate, allowing me to enter.


    I closed the gateway behind me as Vixy slid next to the generator, its metal frame gently humming as it burned fuel to create electrical power for the hunters¡¯ lodge. With a couple of strikes of her thumb, she was able to ignite the light and placed a small flat rock along the smooth bit of the spark wheel to keep the flame lit. Unscrewing the gas cap on the side of the frame, she dropped the lighter inside before quickly screwing the cap back on.


    Racing back through the gateway, we turned the corner to make our way back into the cover of the forest.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± A loud man¡¯s voice yelled at us. ¡°Damn, kids think they can sneak off from working the fields?¡± I snapped my gaze toward a tall man looming over us. Behind him were two other men with rifles pointed at us.


    ¡°Who are you? I don¡¯t recognize your faces?¡± The man continued to bark in our faces. He cocked an eyebrow while pushing the tip of his long-brimmed hat upward to reveal several wrinkly lines along his forehead.


    ¡°We¡¯re new here¡­¡± I stammered, looking for a way to get out of the conversation before the generator blew up with us next to it. ¡°We got lost, we¡¯re sorry.¡±


    ¡°SORRY!?¡± The man screamed in our faces. ¡°There ain¡¯t no sorries allowed out here, son. In fact, for your punishment, I think it¡¯s best you sleep with the animals tonight!¡± He displayed a toothy smile while rubbing his chin. His two lackeys laughed to themselves as they approached, putting the barrel of their rifles to our backs.


    ¡°There are demons in these parts, and if we can¡¯t expect you to know your places, then we¡¯ll have to teach you, ya hear?¡± The man spat in my face.


    Just beyond the fence, I could hear the sound of the generator hissing. A sudden pop alerted the hunters, distracting them. Without hesitation, Vixy turned around, swatting the gun barrel away toward the other hunter holding me hostage. The guard squeezed the trigger, causing the gun to fire off a shot right into his buddy¡¯s leg, giving me an opening to escape as he reeled back in pain.


    ¡°Give me that!¡± The older hunter grabbed the gun from one of his subordinates and aimed at Vixy as we fled. He fired a bullet, hitting her in the back of the chest.


    ¡°Vixy!¡± I screamed, turning back to assist her. The hunter re-aimed his rifle from the recoil, placing its sights over my head, but before he could fire, the generator finally exploded. A loud boom sent bits of flaming balls of steel into the sky causing the hunter to miss his shot as a bit of metal landed on his head, melting the hat he wore to his scalp.


    In an instant, I shifted into my werescale form and lifted Vixy off from the ground. Her chest was rapidly heaving as I carried her past the treeline, disappearing into the woods as the hunters scrambled to put out the fires created by the explosion.


    After covering enough distance from the campsite, I placed Vixy on a soft patch of dirt. Copious amounts of blood were seeping from the bullet wound in her chest as I scrambled to find the ingredients Alice had mentioned for creating the healing salve. Grabbing a handful of nightshade berries growing on a small shrub, I found a rock with a smoothed indent which made for a good enough container while I searched for insects to nab. Unfortunately, I was too anxious and fumbled to catch anything. Thinking quickly, I desperately carved a hole in the dirt with my claws to collect as many earthworms as I could find.


    Placing the worms along with the nightshade, I mixed the ingredients using my index finger, crushing them beneath my claw. After a few seconds, the mixture produced a thick paste similar to the one Alice had made. I wasn¡¯t sure if it would have the same effect, but if I didn¡¯t try something, Vixy would die anyway.


    Satisfied with the modified salve, I rubbed it along Vixy¡¯s chest wound, making sure to cover and fill the hole sufficiently. Unfortunately, my transformation had shredded the stolen uniform I was wearing, so I instead tore off a piece of her long sleeve to wrap around her torso to stem the flow of blood. The tourniquet I made wasn¡¯t perfect, but her ragged breathing stabilized. However, I knew Alice would have more knowledge and better tools to give her a better chance at survival.


    Knowing I did all that I could, I picked Vixy back up and set off back toward the sewer tunnels. By the time I had found the entrance again, the sun had already set and nighttime had fallen.


    Racing through the labyrinth, I found myself back in the Hive. ¡°Alice! Alice! I need to find Alice¡± I continually screamed as I pushed my way past the hybrids forming a line in front of me. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°What is the meaning of all this noise?¡± Kaine appeared, pushing himself in front of his fellow guards. He peered down at Vixy¡¯s body in my arms, flaring his nostrils when he realized the gravity of the situation.


    ¡°Move! Get out of the way!¡± Using his strength, he pushed several brood members aside to make a path for me as I raced toward the shaman¡¯s hovel. Alice was there to greet me as I made my way inside the stone hut. The wise woman had already prepared a batch of healing salve just in case of a situation like this.


    ¡°Place her on the slab, I¡¯ll take a look at her.¡± Alice carried a bowl of the paste in her frail palms.


    I did as the old hybrid had instructed and placed Vixy on the flat stone surface. ¡°Remove her bandages, I need to look at the damage.¡± Again, I did as I was told and slowly released the tourniquet I had quickly tied.


    ¡°Hmmm,¡± Alice inspected the wound as I removed the last wrap from Vixy¡¯s chest. ¡°You made this?¡± She looked up at me.


    ¡°Yes, I found some nightshade, but couldn¡¯t catch any insects or find any larvae so I dug into the earth and used some worms I gathered instead,¡± I explained. ¡°Will she be alright?¡±


    Alice nodded as she set aside the bowl of salve to retrieve some scraps of thick moss. ¡°Yes, thanks to you, she¡¯ll be fine. That was some quick thinking to use earthworms as a substitute.¡± Alice congratulated me as she lifted Vixy¡¯s torso up to wrap the moss around her wound.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if it would work or not, but I¡¯m glad it did,¡± I replied, letting out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need to monitor her for a bit, see if there are any side effects, but the modified salve is doing its job. The bleeding has already stopped and her skin is showing signs of regeneration. Good work newcomer. Rumorey will be pleased, assuming you found the hunters¡¯ hideout.¡±


    ¡°We did,¡± I answered. ¡°Well, more like Vixy did. She¡¯s a great scout and saved my life again when we were almost captured after we set the hunters¡¯ lodge on fire. She took a bullet for me and so I had to save her.¡±


    Alice nodded, ¡°She¡¯s a hard werescale to be around. A natural loner. Many avoid her, finding it difficult to tolerate her cold attitude. However, I am thankful you were there for her.¡±


    I shook my head, ¡°She¡¯s saved me a number of times. I¡¯m still in her debt, and probably will be for as long as you¡¯ll allow me to be a part of the brood.¡±


    The wise woman stood silent for a moment before speaking again, ¡°Go ahead and seek out Rumorey, tell him about the success of your trial and he will anoint you as a full member. You deserve it.¡±


    I glanced back at Vixy as she grumbled incoherently in her sleep. Relieved that she was still alive, I followed Alice¡¯s command and left to search for Rumorey.


    Stepping out of the doorway, I was stopped by Kaine as he towered over me, ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I spat back at him. ¡°Vixy risked her life to save mine and I brought her back here after we destroyed the hunters¡¯ hideout.¡±


    Kaine straightened his back in an attempt to intimidate me, ¡°How do I know you¡¯re not lying? I promise you human, if anything happens to Vixy, I will personally grind your bones beneath my teeth!¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go ask her when she wakes up?¡± I took a step forward to challenge him. He was much bigger, but I wasn¡¯t afraid after what I had been through. ¡°We stole a lighter from some hunters in the woods and dropped it into a gas-filled generator. We watched the whole compound burst into a ball of flames before she was shot. I did what I could to patch her wounds using what Alice had taught me and now she¡¯s stable. Don¡¯t believe me? Go and see for yourself!¡± I pointed to the doorway behind me that led into the infirmary.


    Kaine ground his teeth together as he spoke, ¡°For your sake, she better wake up, but believe me, if any part of her story doesn¡¯t line up, I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    ¡°Both of you stop!¡± Rumorey¡¯s familiar voice split the tension. I watched as the brood elder emerged from the front of the crowd. He passed by me to enter the shaman¡¯s hovel. From inside, I could hear Alice and him conversing, but I couldn¡¯t make out anything they were saying.


    Finally, Rumorey stepped out from the doorway. With his booming voice, he commanded everyone to leave and give Vixy some space. Slowly, the crowd dispersed with Kaine being the last to leave, but not before sneering at me in disgust.


    ¡°Follow me, newcomer, I need to speak with you for a moment,¡± Rumorey said while gesturing me to follow.


    I did as he said, walking side-by-side as he spoke. ¡°Alice tells me you completed your trial and rescued Vixy after an unfortunate incident. I thought I heard something rumbling on the surface, but wasn¡¯t sure what it could¡¯ve been.¡±


    The elder stopped to look at the running sewer water before speaking again. ¡°You¡¯ve shown great promise, Seth. You were brought to us against your will, fought Kaine in a trial by combat, and fought against your own kind while also rescuing one of our own. I believe that makes you an official member of the brood.¡± Rumorey turned his head toward me with a smile, ¡°Congratulations. There won¡¯t be any celebration considering some of your brethren are still resilient to change, but you have my thanks.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but smile as pride filled my chest. Despite the unexpectedly arduous journey, I felt a sense of belonging here in the Hive. ¡°Thank you, I don¡¯t know what to say.¡±


    Rumorey shrugged, ¡°No need to say anything. Tomorrow, you will start your training with Kaine to become a scout like Vixy. He will teach you the art of combat and don¡¯t worry about his temper. You will come to understand why he is the way he is in time. Once he sees that Vixy is alive because of you, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll see what I and Alice see.¡±


    I stood next to the elder as he watched the water flowing beneath him. A moment of silence passed before I spoke, ¡°With all due respect¡­¡± Rumorey turned his gaze toward me.


    ¡°Go on,¡± he said after another moment of awkward silence passed.


    ¡°I would like to become a shaman, like Alice,¡± I said, unable to look at him out of fear of the consequences of defying his word.


    ¡°Hmm, what an interesting request,¡± he said while stroking the horn under his chin as if it were facial hair. ¡°Consider it done. You¡¯ll still need to train under Kaine, but Alice did tell me that if you hadn¡¯t created that healing salve she makes, Vixy would¡¯ve bled out. Yes, I think your suggestion is the correct one.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± I could feel my lips spreading into a long smile as I became overfilled with joy.


    ¡°Now go to the mess hall and get yourself some grub soup. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re hungry after everything you¡¯ve been through.¡± Rumorey commanded before leaving me to stand alone.


    ¡°Yes sir, and thank you again for this opportunity!¡± I thanked the elder as he left.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, brood member Seth.¡± He said before turning the corner out of sight.