"No!" Keith cried, leaping towards the helicopter. Even as he did, he knew he had been too late. With a chilling slowness, he saw every detail as he rose towards the chopper. He could see Melanie, her eyes awash in fear and hope, reaching out with one arm while three men struggled with holding her back. He could see the dim blue lights that controlled the radios and other equipment in the cargo area of the Huey. He could see the setting moon reflecting off the sunglasses of the cavernous man in the doorway. But most of all, he could see the barrel of the .50 caliber handgun pointed right at him, and the hammer rising to fire a round into his head.

So this is what it is like at the moment of our death, he thought, before a shot from below struck the barrel of the fifty caliber pistol. It wasn't much, just enough to nick the barrel out of the way, and Keith could feel the round strike him in his upraised left shoulder rather than in his head. The impact was enough to throw him off, and his claws scrabbled for purchase on the skids of the helicopter before slipping, and he had a moment to watch the helicopter pull away from him before the ground rushed up, slamming into his back and knocking the wind out of him. He lay there, stunned into immobility as the helicopter pulled away.

He didn't know how long he lay there, but the next thing he was aware of was a weak jostling of his shoulder. Turning his pounding head, he saw Morrigan Thornblood. She was obviously dying, but the pistol in her hand was still smoking. On her hands and knees, blood poured from the holes in her chest, pooling underneath her torso. "Good," she said, barely audible over the rush of blood in his ears. "You are alive."

"Wh.... why?" Keith asked, still unable to move his limbs. He guessed he had shifted back to his human form after his fall. He must have fallen unconscious at least momentarily. It was the only way, other than death, that he would have reverted back involuntarily.

"I was wrong," Morrigan said simply. She coughed, a fine mist of blood splattering her hands and arms, which were trembling with the effort of keeping herself up. "I'm still going to hell, but.... I was wrong."

Before Keith could reply, she convulsed, her eyes rolling back before she collapsed, dead. Keith lay there, staring at the sky, willing his limbs to move. It felt like forever, and he could hear the battle that was occurring just a few hundred meters away. Slowly, feeling started to come back, first with pain in his left arm, then in tingling that started like pins and needles that moved down his limbs. Groaning, he barely was able to roll to his side and then sit up before he saw a figure walking towards him. "Lady Thornblood," he said painfully, recognizing the statuesque Asian woman. "I am sorry, your stepdaughter is dead."

“As is my husband and son," she replied, helping him to his feet. "The enemy has fallen back, their mission it seems is a failure."

Keith looked up into the sky, where he could hear the Huey retreating, just at the limits of his hearing. They had to be over three miles away, or else his hearing had been damaged by the fall. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility, he could have blown out an eardrum with the impact. Still, Thornblood's voice sounded normal, so he didn't think so.

"I am not sure of that," he said, wheezing at the pain in his ribs. He wasn't sure, but he thought something could be broken, or at least some ribs sprained. If it wasn't for the amount of muscle and strength in his back, he was sure he'd have shattered his spine as well. "They have my Mate."

"Then it is time for us to talk," she said. Kneeling down, she placed her hands underneath Keith's armpits and lifted, helping him to his feet. Keith barely restrained a groan, weaving slightly as the world spun in front of his eyes before steadying. "But first, let us get medical care for you and the other wounded. My clan's physician is attending others on the battlefield right now."

"Then let them be treated first," Keith replied. "My injuries are not life threatening. What do you know of casualties?"

"The armored vehicle was a slaughter," Lady Thornblood replied. "Before he died, my husband gallantly destroyed the light machine gun, but the larger gun did not stop until it ran out of ammunition. I have the few uninjured members of my clan gathering the information you seek now."

"Thank you, Lady Thornblood. Your husband was a brave and noble wolf."

Thornblood nodded her thanks. "I also have bad tidings as well. As I came through the house, I found your sister and your mother. Lord Lockwood, your mother is dead."

Keith felt like he had just been punched in his injured ribs, and it took all the steel in his personality to keep it together. He wanted to fall down on his knees, screaming his pain and anguish, but he was an Alpha Male. Sometimes, that really sucked. "And my sister?"

"I believe she was attacked by Morrigan when she was in human form. She was found at the bottom of a stairwell concussed, but she should be fine.”

"Then take me to the main hall, or whatever the hell is left of it. I must see to the rest of the Council." Keith made his way painfully towards the main hall. He was halfway there before he remembered he was now naked, his clothes shredded tatters left in the woods after his transformation. "Do you happen to know where I could get a pair of pants?"

"I have an uninjured attendant, I’ll have him get you some,” Lady Thornblood replied. "In the meantime, I’ll gather the rest of the Council. Lord Lockwood, about my stepdaughter...."

"I don't care about Morrigan's actions, insofar as the impact they have on relations between our clans," Keith replied, cutting her off. "Your husband more than made up for that with how honorably and bravely he fought, as well as the other members of your Clan. What I’m concerned with is my Mate, and getting her back. Those were the Hunters, both in the attack and in the helicopter. They have her and my child. Until I get them back, nothing else matters.”

"I understand, and I agree. I will assemble the Council."

Keith nodded and removed his arm from Lady Thornblood's shoulders. "Thank you, Lady Thornblood. I think I’ve recovered enough from my fall to walk on my own. I’ll wait for the Council in the main hall."

As it was, the main hall was a gigantic glass and shrapnel covered mess. Bullet holes pocked the walls, and some of the hundred-year-old wooden panels had been blown fully out of their frames, with only splinters hanging in front of the stone walls that they had covered. The few wolves who were uninjured were either the very old or the very young, those who had been hustled into the catacombs beneath the mansion in the chaos of the battle. A young boy, a Lockwood clan member who couldn't have been older than ten, brought Keith a chair. "Lord Lockwood, I'll bring something for your arm," the boy said, turning to run off.

Keith put his right hand on the boy's arm. "Just a moment. What's your name, son?"

"Jerry Greenwood, sir," the boy said.

"Where is your father or mother, Jerry Greenwood?"

"My mother is at home, sir, looking after my little sister. My father is.... injured."

Keith could see in the boy's eyes what he wanted to do. He noted that despite the desire he had to check on his father, the boy was doing what he could to help others. Keith made a mental note to remember this boy's name. The Lockwood Clan would need young members like him in the future. "I admire your devotion to duty, Jerry, but go to your father. He needs you more than I do."

"He will be fine, sir," Jerry said bravely, his lip quivering only slightly. "He was hit by some shrapnel in his leg. I took him to the medics myself, him cursing the entire way. He wished he could have joined the fight, and I think my mother will be upset with him for the language he used while I was helping him."

Keith smiled and patted the boy on the shoulder. "There will be plenty of honor to be had in the following days. I’m sure your father will make a great account for himself once he is healed. I tell you what. My sister is also being cared for. Could you please go check on Lady Lockwood, and if you happen to see your father on the way, give him my regards. Tell him I think he has a fine son."

Keith could see the boy's chest swell with pride, and he nodded, running off without another word. Keith watched him go, a grim smile on his face.

"A fine show of leadership, Lord Lockwood," a wounded wolf to his right, who had most of his face covered in a quick bandage that looked like it had once been a t-shirt, said. "That boy will be able to tell that story for years at his family gatherings. The day that Lord Lockwood himself praised him and his father."

Keith nodded. "Apologies, friend. Your bandages cover enough that I can’t recognize you."

"No apologies necessary. I am Peter Alces of the Kenai Clan. My Lord and Lady were both killed in the attack. When Lady Thornblood said there would most likely be a Council meeting, I was the highest ranking member of my Clan still mobile."

"Yet you’re not uninjured," Keith noted.

"Nor are you, however, I do own one advantage over you, Lord Lockwood," Alces said.

"Oh, what's that?"

The bandaged man chuckled painfully and pointed down. "I at least have pants."

Keith nodded. "You have a point there."

Within ten minutes, Keith had gotten some pants, while Lady Thornblood brought at least a representative of every Clan to the main hall. Keith was sad to see the number that was being represented by members other than their Alphas, with the Blanc Loup being represented by the youngest son of the Alpha. "I.... I speak for my Clan now," the young man, a boy not even ten years old, said. "I will convey any news to my Father."

"I thank you, young Master Blanc Loup," Keith said, nodding gratefully. While neither of his parents were dead, the prognosis for his mother surviving her wounds wasn’t good, and his father was currently in surgery.

"While thanks are deserved all around, I feel that we should move on with business," Lady Thornblood said. "In the interest of all, I’ll put it short and sweet. Our Gathering has been attacked. The Kinbushi have inflicted grave harm on all of us, but also according to Lord Lockwood they have kidnapped his Mate. I put forth that all inter-Clan business be suspended until this crisis is resolved. Any decisions that were made at this Gathering are to be deemed null and void, and tabled until a proper alternative Gathering can be formed at the end of the crisis."

"That is all well and good, Lady Thornblood," one of the Council members spoke up, "but speaking for myself and my clan, we are in a hell of a bind. Both of my Alphas are dead, their only surviving child younger than Master Blanc Loup over there. While I can stand in temporarily, the fact is that my hands are going to be full just preventing a Clan war of succession. You speak of going after the Silver Bringers to rescue Lord Lockwood's Mate, but I can tell you right now my Clan has no forces to bring to bear. A good quarter of our warriors were slaughtered tonight, and those that are left I fear will be more interested in an internal fight for supremacy than a romantic rescue mission. Our territory is beset by independent wolves that would gladly see our control fall apart, to feast on the scraps. This Council would not want an entire territory of Lone Wolves running around. We all know what happened last time."

"The sacrifice of your fallen warriors, and all those who died tonight will be remembered,” Keith said. "And we know what happened. Let us all face it, the reason the silberjagger even exist is because a Council similar to this failed all those centuries ago. Therefore, I will pledge this. Any and all Clans that need assistance, the Lockwoods will assist you, regardless of previous conflicts between our Clans. Any and all Clan Lockwood members stand ready to keep the peace. Except for myself."

"What do you plan to do, Lord Lockwood?"

“I’m going after my Mate. If those bastards want a fight, I’ll bring one to them. Even if I have to do it by myself."

Lady Thornblood stood up. "No, Lord Lockwood, you won’t be by yourself. All Clans stand ready to assist as we can. The Thornbloods make the same pledge as the Lockwoods. We have some spare members, I can have them mobilized quickly to assist any Clan that needs it."

There was discussion amongst the Council members gathered until Peter Alces raised his hand. "Excuse me.”

The entire group quieted to let the obviously bravely wounded warrior speak. "I apologize, like many of you, my Clan's Alphas were killed in the attack. However, as much as I would like to cry to the moon and render throats from necks, there is the pure fact that any forces we can muster, once we deal with the pacification of our territories, will be even less capable than what we had tonight. We have lost the greatest warriors and leaders of our entire race within North America. In addition, the Great Rift caused by the American Revolution has led our European cousins to leave us to our own devices. But we need reinforcements."

"A fine speech, Peter Alces," one of the other Council members spoke up. "And a good representation of why you were also a high-level advisor to Lord Kenai. However, unless you happen to have a contingent of Canadian Special Forces who owe you a debt of gratitude, I don’t see where you words are going."

“I’m speaking of those who fought the Wolves long, long ago. Most of them are no longer in your territories, or live as independents, in small families beneath your notice. However, my Clan has a sizable contingent of them still in our territory, and we have lived at peace for two generations now."

"What the hell is he talking about?" one of the youngest members of the council said.

“What I’m saying is, it’s time to talk to the Bears," Peter replied. "Some of you younger members may not know about them, but they do still exist."

The recommendation shocked everyone into silence for a moment, before an explosion of comments flooded the room.

"Preposterous!"

"Untrustworthy bastards!"

"Are you out of your fucking mind, Alces?"

"They're goddamned Bears!"

Some of the younger Council members looked around, perplexed until finally the representative from Blanc Loup raised his hand. "Excuse me," he said, repeating himself until the Council quieted down and listened to him. “Can you please explain?”

A few of the older members guffawed until Lady Thornblood held up her hand. "Master Blanc Loup has a point. He doesn’t know what the Bears are." She looked at Keith, holding her hand out to him. "It’s your fight, Lord Lockwood. Perhaps you should do the telling."

Keith nodded, gathered his thoughts for a moment, and began. "Hundreds of years ago, when the first members of our race came to what was then known as the New World, they found a land rich in opportunity for our kind to practice our ways. However, we were seen as invaders by the Natives, who when confronted with our ancestor's abilities, merely scoffed at us. You see, they practiced a form of shamanism, and to them, the ability to go from human to animal form was not much more exciting than a decent parlor trick would be to us.

"As conflict grew between the Natives and the European settlers, the Natives fought back. In the beginning, they were quite successful, such as the famous Lost Colony of Roanoke. One of our kind was in that colony and spoke of a fierce type of Native warriors, who he called Skinwalkers, although the term has been used by others to describe similar groups since. These warriors took on mostly the form of a giant bear, although other animals were common back then as well.”

"For decades, a fierce war was fought between the Wolves and the Skinwalkers. Eventually, with what we call the French and Indian War, a treaty was struck between our kind and the Skinwalkers. They would confine themselves to only the Bear form. Meanwhile, both sides would cease attacks on non-lycanthrope populations. This benefited our kind more than theirs since disease was already ravaging their populations. Shapeshifting can defend against a lot of things, but smallpox wasn't one of them. By the time of World War I, almost no Bears had been sighted in a decade. Due to the poor actions on both sides, as well as the fact that it seemed to have little impact on modern Lycan interrelations, the stories about them have faded from common teachings to our children. It seems, however, that the Kenai have had knowledge of them for a while. If I can ask, Peter, why hasn't this been brought to our attention before?"

"As you mentioned, Lord Lockwood, by the time of World War I, the Bears were almost extinct. However, my Clan, then under the leadership of my Alpha's grandfather, incurred a blood debt to the Bears. The youngest son of the Alphas joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, the Canadian group that went to fight in France, against his father's wishes. While he cleared it with our French blood, unbeknownst to all parties the son of the leader of the Bear family also joined the CEF. While in France, these two were assigned to the same platoon. During the fighting, the two men saved each other's lives more than once. When they finally realized what the other one was, instead of fighting, they lay aside their arms and embraced as brothers. When they came back, the two men convinced their fathers to let the Wolves and the Bears live in peace in Kenai territory. The arrangement is much like how different Clans of Lycans interact, although there are some differences since we share territory."

"Well, that explains how you can have such relative wealth with so few Clan members," someone else said. "You've been supplementing your forces!"

"Not at all," Peter replied. "While we cohabitate our territory, there is only a little cooperation between our two kinds. However, they’re not the untrustworthy small group loner types that our ancestors made it seem. They, like us, have evolved to fit the reality of modern times. That is, of course, you prefer to have our Gatherings in the middle of Yellowstone park where we can run around fully changed, howling at the moon, rutting wildly and snarling at each other. I've heard it can be a lot of fun that way."

The comment earned a chuckle, ratcheting down the tension. Keith took the opportunity. "All right. Peter, once treatments have begun for everyone, and as many people as possible are stable, I move we disperse to our Clan territories. Those of you here, by Council authority, can temporarily act as Clan Alpha until their own Alphas can take back control, or a new Alpha is determined. Until then, you can contact my Clan and Clan Thornblood for assistance in preventing civil strife. Agreed?"

The vote was nearly unanimous, with only a few of the youngest members not agreeing, mainly because they didn't know what to do next. As the group broke apart, Keith was encouraged to see older Alphas and Lycans take the young members aside and counsel them, Clan politics temporarily forgotten. Lady Thornblood came over, a small tight smile on her face. "Your words were wise and well said, Lord Lockwood. Your strength will be necessary over the next few days."

"Lady Thornblood, you know my focus right now. My first concern is Melanie, then I can focus on lycanthrope politics."

Thornblood nodded her agreement. "I would do the same in your place. But first, go check on your sister. Then we can start to bury the dead together. May I ask, what about a local police response?"

"The local sheriff is a Clan Lockwood member, as well as his senior deputy. He’ll keep any and all attention away from the Manor while we finish our business. As soon as I can, there will be a cleaning crew and repair crew up here. By the time any non-lycanthropes come up here, the Manor will look as close to normal as possible, at least on the outside. Interior repairs might take longer."

Lady Thornblood thought for a moment, then held out her hand. "My husband..... Nioclas..... he may have disagreed politically with you. You two certainly fought, mostly because of the situation with Morrigan. I would have us mend that rift. Akiko Thornblood pledges her friendship, if you will have it."

Keith took her hand and shook. "Keith Waldwyck accepts it and offers his in return. Now Akiko, if I can ask a favor of you, please continue to assist me with coordination of the cleanup, after we have both had time to grieve and check on our wounded. We can discuss a burial and memorial ceremony later. What time is it, anyway?"

The large grandfather clock at the end of the hall, which had by some miracle not only continued to work but escaped unscathed, bonged, counting out the hours. "Seven in the morning," Akiko said. "Let us meet again at nine. Two hours should give everyone at least a little time to gather themselves."

Keith turned and slowly made his way towards the largest dining room, which had been set up as a temporary triage center. He walked in to see over two dozen Lycans in various states of injury, most of them bleeding from bullet or shrapnel wounds. He saw Jerry Greenwood kneeling next to a man he assumed was his father. Coming over, Keith wanted to kneel but wasn't sure he could have gotten up without assistance. "Brother Greenwood, how are you doing?"

"Bloody fucking pissed off to have been taken out by something as brain-dead as a chunk of glass," the man replied, his hand still holding the compress against his thigh. "Don’t worry. Next time, they'll taste my claws if I have anything to say about it."

"I'm sure they will. In the meantime, rest. Your son has done an excellent job in the meantime, you should be proud."

"I am sir," Greenwood said, reaching up and ruffling his son's hair. "He's a great boy. Like I said, my only regret is that I was injured so quickly, and it’ll take me so long to heal. Apologies sir, but I’m a first generation Lycan. This may take me a while to overcome. A week perhaps."

"Knowing your spirit, I suspect I’ll be seeing you hobbling around the Manor by tomorrow morning. Now, rest. If I can find someone who can cook, we'll get some soup or something else up here quickly. Jerry, can you do that for me? If you need help, ask Peter Alces or Lady Thornblood, I'm sure they can get someone who will help you."

The young boy stood up, smiling at being recognized again. Nodding, he ran off without even a word of goodbye. Keith watched him run off, a smile on his face. Greenwood, on the other hand, shook his head along with his smile. "Apologies, Lord Lockwood. I'll speak with him on his manners later."

"No need. His eager service and hard work are better than all the flowery words in the world. Take care, Brother."

Keith walked away to where he saw Kimberly had been laid out on the long table, her face pale and strained in the overhead lights. Someone had covered her to her neck in a sheet, and for a moment Keith feared that she was dead, until she stirred and groaned. Ignoring the pain, he made his way over, finally leaning on the table, stroking his sister's pained face. "Kim, I'm here," he whispered, "it's okay, I'm here."

Kimberly's eyelids fluttered, and she opened them slowly, wincing at the bright light in her eyes. Keith looked up and growled, his irritation seen. Someone over by the entrance to the dining room turned the rheostat knob, and the bright overheads in their chandelier dimmed considerably.

"Thanks," she said, groaning. "Keith.... Mother...."

"I know," he said, tears threatening his vision. "They took Melanie too."

"Morrigan?" Kimberly asked, struggling to sit up. A medic came over, his face concerned until he saw the expression on the Alpha Female's face. "I swear to blood..."

"She is dead, too," Keith replied softly. "There is much to fill you in on."

Kimberly finally fought her way to a sitting position and swung her legs over the side of the table. One of the doctors finally came over, a stethoscope already in his ears. "You really shouldn't be moving, Lady Lockwood," he said, bravely putting his hands on her shoulders. "You took quite a tumble, and it's a miracle you didn't break your neck. Or maybe you did and just healed that quickly. In any case, I don't recommend you moving."

"This table can be used by someone more gravely injured," Kimberly replied. "You think I'm going to die just getting up?"

The doctor looked like he was going to object but finally shook his head. "No, Lady Lockwood. It's still not wise for you to exert yourself, though."

"Then I’ll take her to her quarters," Keith said. "The bed will be more comfortable than this table anyway."

"Lord Lockwood, you shouldn't be moving too much either," the doctor said. "My Lady Thornblood said that you took quite the fall yourself. Even as an Alpha Male, your body is not built for that sort of punishment. And then there is your arm wound to treat."

"Send a medic to stitch me up later if he can spare the time. I'm not dying. Triage, Doctor. It doesn't matter what my rank is, got it?"

"Yes, Lord Lockwood," the doctor replied.

Kimberly tried to get off the table, but wobbled, dizzy. Keith reached around her with his good right arm and held her, holding his sister close. "Screw it. Kim, put your arms around my neck."

Using his arm like a sling underneath her hips, Keith lifted his sister up with one arm and carried her out of the room and up the main stairs, heading for her quarters. He painfully opened the door and brought her in, setting her on her feet next to her bed. "Okay, now this is orders from not only your Clan Alpha Male but your brother. You lie down, right here, for at least the next hour or two until the dizziness goes away. Got it?"

Kimberly looked up at him with heartbreaking pain in her eyes, the tears that had been threatening to spill over since she had woken up finally escaping. "Keith," she said, sobbing.

"I know," Keith said, holding his sister, both of them letting the tears flow in the privacy they so rarely had. Holding his sister, Keith lay down, the two of them finding comfort in the one place they'd always had since their birth, in each other's arms. "I know, Kim."

When the tears finally slowed, they looked at each other, both knowing what the other was thinking. "Okay. First, you rest, then we go get her back," Keith said, kissing Kimberly's forehead. He climbed off the bed, pulling back the cover to tuck her in. "I'll be back in an hour."

Kimberly nodded and lay her head back. "When you do, bring Lady Thornblood. It seems she and I have much to talk about."

"I will. Rest, and then we'll all talk." Keith closed the door behind him, and Kimberly looked up at the ceiling of her quarters. Keith was right, there was a lot to talk about.

And a lot of blood to spill.