Infinite Monkeys

As Deborah got settled and Vanessa began to softly snore, I wondered at the whole scheme of the pack. Here our leader is laid out, and we just carry on, same old arguments, same old differences.

Sleep came as a Bastet in the night, swift and silent, never letting the prey know what hit it.

FLASH

I looked down at cubs, knowing they were mine and knowing that they would be my last. Age had taken my body but not my mind. I forced myself up out of the chair and walked to the river. That wound never did heal straight, and age and the weather lent a limp to my steps. I know he is there, waiting for the chance and yet I must go to him. The pride is well and it is time. Kneeling at the water's edge, I sense more that see the ripple of the attack. Leaping clear there is a tug. On landing I am off balance, and see that he has taken my foot. This is truly the end. Shifting to crinos I leap back at Old Croc and take the fight to him. Age has slowed me and with one foot gone my reply leaves much to be desired. His jaws catch me and drag me under. As the death roll begins and his teeth in my body cause the water to froth red, I call on Celine. The pressure builds, and as he crushes my chest and back, my hand finds his heart. As we sink deeper, me in his jaws and his heart in my hand, I see old friends and allies, kin and enemies. All nod approval, I died as I lived.

FLASH

The Albino was behind me, somewhere, waiting and watching for any weakness. He still wore the scars from our last meeting, as I wore mine. I leapt to the side before the sound registered, and as I rolled, his klaive smashed through the wall of the apartment. Death is in our eyes. He tosses the weapon back and forth, hand to hand, hoping to confuse. I stand ready, then charge, swinging low as his blade flies between his hands. He leaps and my lunge goes wide. Landing puts him at my side and I feel the razor sharp blade open a gash over my ribs. I roll towards him, past him, and catch his thigh with the point of my klaive. Neither wound fatal, both enough to get our attention. I stand out of his reach as blood begins to flow down my side. His thigh is oozing, missed the artery. We circle and test each other. Feint, jab, lunge. All passes score, and soon the room is splattered with blood. Can't tell his from mine, and yet we spill more and more. He is still not over our last meeting and his breath sounds like a wet ragged bellows. I move in to finish the fight and he moves faster than he should have. Tricked in, I take a viscious slice that opens my off hand arm from shoulder to wrist. Not to be undone, I kick out snapping his knee inwards and slash across his chest and stomach. Still we circle, slower, closer, looking for the opening to dispatch the other. We move, each seeing a possibility, each knowing it has to be this time. Each wrong. His upper body falls to the right and his legs fall backwards. As I grasp at the hilt of his klaive, (how did it grow in my chest?), the light flares and there is a bridge. Comrades line it and beckon. Walking towards them I wonder if they will let me keep the klaive. I look down and it is gone.

FLASH

The shelling has been going on for days, nonstop around the clock. What is left to bomb? Burnt out shells of buildings and craters? Still they continue. Still we sit in the bunker. Mganno comes in the night to tell us that we are moving out, but someone must try to silence the battery. At least for a little while. None volunteer, yet none step back from the line. Silently, of it's own will, my hand rises and my feet carry me forward. I know what I am, I know that mine is the best chance. Teacher said to care for kin, assist allies and destroy enemies. Two out of three. I took the last of the grenades, a rifle with two clips and my knife and went into the night. They must have had night scopes because the shelling seemed to march down the street, closer and closer to the bunker. I yelled and started back, but the next three shells landed and blew me up and back, hard, against one of the last standing walls. The fourth found the bunker. Sunlight woke me, that and the squawking of the vultures. They were hopping up and down, jostling for position on the bodies. I wonder if they know just how close they got to hitting me? I'll have to talk with them later. Now where is that other bunker?

FLASH

I see something spinning the distance, black and orange, turning in tight circles. Now faster, now slower. Moving closer I see it is a khan. The ground is strange, covered in writing, pictures, words, a huge map. The four compass points all say north, and then all say south. It cycles through the cardinal points and then through the rest. NE, NW, pulsing the rhythm of the changes. Still the khan turns. Moving closer still the breeze of its spinning ruffles my jacket. I reach out and stop the mad twirling.

FLASH

Vanessa, push...

FLASH

I rise higher and higher, as if I was the mountain. The land spreads out below and all around I see Garou. Red-talon in their rage, Glass-walkers in their technologic towers, Fianna dancing as they come. They all walk towards the mountain. I sense I am not alone. Turning without turning I behold the pack, all with arms outstretched, welcoming.

FLASH

I sit up, taking in the cave and the sleeping pack. Another dream? No, this is real, this is now. Vanessa is still sleeping, snoring and looking so innocent. Should that innocence be taken away? Niko is still down, but Tamara seems to be getting him back on his feet. Hunts looks pissed even asleep, so his rage grows.

Here we go again