The Gathering

CHAPTER 14

Rick reined control of his fear as he shifted back on the other side. Morbane sat at attention as his feet as he had since his rescue, seemingly reluctant to leave his side even for a second and for some reason just his presence calmed and reassured him that he was safe and protected like no one else could make him feel.

Still the last time he was here he was locked in a cell, his life ebbing away slowly and hungry beyond thought and helpless. What if they rejected him again, even with all Sky’s blood and power and traces of Eagle still in his system?

He got no more time to consider or even change his mind as there came a thick accented voice, angry and threatening “What are you doing here! I thought we got rid of…” the words cut off as there came a shocked gasp. One of the dogs, a female of brown and black, bounded forward and into the figures arms. There came a joyful sob and when Rick stepped closer to the shadows he found a familiar figure there.

Using the memories left by Sky and the taste of Eagle’s he identified the figure, speaking the name over and over until he had his attention and asked where his maker was. “With the others” he motioned quickly behind him as if unwilling to let go of the animal even for a second “we felt Sky leave us” he looked Rick dead in the eyes “what happened? And why do I feel so…connected like this to my sister creature?”

“She is a part of you,” he explained, “I can not tell how or why for I do not know myself. What I DO know is each of these guardians belong with an Idar and was born just for them, as the ones soon to be born will be.”

“You are right” he looked firm as he called out two names unexpected followed by another with a term of endearment after-wards. Two male teenagers and a young American Indian woman around the physical age of the late twenties appeared. At Rick’s look he explained “I thought it best to get a few others as proof that it is not just me.”

He understood this and just nodded.

The three looked at them in confusion until three of the dogs stepped to their sides, a male with the woman and two of the pregnant females to the boys. One boy, the youngest and a definitely gorgeous one of almost sixteen, hesitated though, looking at his brother, unsure and a little frightened by what he was feeling.

“It is all right Wild One, they belong at our sides as part of us. I think the Great Spirit himself sent them to us to protect and love us in our time of need.”

“What time of need?” Rick frowned at him.

“Eagle is ill. He refuses to feed and his mind is damaged by the hunger and Sky’s leaving. He is calling us nasty and cruel things only Hawko would say and fights us like an animal. We do not know how to help him.” Rick frowned at this knowledge “it could be many things. Sky made him and made him first, it could be because of his loss. Take me too him.”

All four nodded and lead him deeper into the caves, the dogs slowly filing off to go join their companions, even the ones watching them from the entrances of their cave-rooms collapsing to bury their arms and heads in the thick coat as if finding a long lost relation-a brother or sister. A few even started to cry out their loneliness and joy at the new companionship, tears soaking the fur of their necks or the dogs wet tongue taking it in as soon as the wetness could slide down their cheeks.


Even Corin reacted the same way only more with his red-furred dog, crumbling into a heap in front of it, not simply crying but full out brokenly sobbing and so deep he didn’t notice that even though his dog licked his tears away, the liquid fire was not affecting it in any way it should.

Next a younger Eagle look-alike saw his state, frowned and with his dog by his side he knelt beside the Fire Idar, encircling the boy in his arms as he held him close, looking up at Rick as he passed and a soft voice entered his head, the first eight words echoed by numerous sudden others “the Great Spirit bless you for your act.” Then he went on “Despite my efforts and our link he has never really opened up to us. I have a feeling things will be different from now on.”

Rick nodded his consent as they kept on, soon reaching the cells again. Instinctively he tensed at this, but the reassuring brush of Morbane at his leg, the power flowing through him and Payton and Anna just outside the caves relaxed him.

It didn’t take long before he heard and felt it. First was the sense of evil, something definitely NOT Eagle there. Then came the loud cursing and cruel taunts and comments being shouted from a distant cell.

This was NOT Eagle, with Sky’s memories he could tell not to mention Eagle’s own. Rick knew it was not in him to be cruel to anyone-what he had done to Rick himself had been from necessity only-both to get Sky back and test his plans and motives towards Rick. But then who and what was it and how was it using the powerful form of Sky’s first fledgling to exist like this?

He breathed in deeply then suddenly, accidentally, caught the scent. It was only a brief whiff, hidden under Eagle’s blood and body scent but there none the less. Sucking in breath sharply he backed away two steps-he KNEW that presence!
Seeing his reaction Eagle’s first, senses attuned to his master, asked in confusion at his alarm “what is it?”

“Do you not sense that? That evil presence here, using Eagle as a vessel?” The four exchanged looks like he was crazy and the younger once said slowly, cautiously “What do you mean? What evil presence? We just sense Eagle.”

“Perhaps I sense him because he made me” Rick said thoughtfully, Another thought in his head adding “Or the chemical drug and Sky’s blood has enhanced my senses more than even them” but he hadn’t realized he spoke the first thought out loud until the younger frowned and asked “what are you saying?”

A sudden thought occurred to him and he looked at them all seriously “when Hawko killed Eagle before he became full, how did he do it, tell me exactly.” The younger looked about to protest but the older said smoothly “he impaled his heart with a spear.”

“Is that all? This is important, did he ever bite or bite and feed from him?”

“No he did not…” the older one’s eyes widened slowly nearly all the way as something dawned on him “but there was two days and nights between Eagle being kidnapped and Sky’s rescue! He could have done anything to him then and Eagle always refused to talk about those days!”

The younger one’s eyes widened also “that is what you are saying, is it not? Hawko is using Eagle-that is why he is like this. How do we help him?”

“You said he is refusing to feed?” When they nodded he continued “I think the reason for that is Hawko knows Idar blood will weaken his hold and give Eagle the strength to completely break the link, and the more the better” he looked at the four “I want two of you to go out among our people and find volunteers, ones willing to give their blood to him-even if we have to force him.”

The four’s faces showed they didn’t like this idea.

“It is only a last resort” Rick soothed them “I am hoping that by bringing his dog to him…” he motioned at the last dog following them-a jet black one with a brown patch between the ears and specking the tips and tail “he will fight Hawko long enough to let us feed him.”

“If not?”

“Then I will have to do to him what I have no wish too. I will have to feed FROM him until his blood loss activates his hunger so he will ignore Hawko in his bodies blinding need.”

“Why must you, not one of us?” the younger said suspiciously. Rick ignored it in his voice and answered him honestly “by this time his blood is pure Hawko. Hawko is my violator-his blood is already part of me. I will not risk any of you becoming infected.”

“You are our chief now, can WE risk you being ‘infected’ any more than you already are?”
“Yes, Sky’s blood will protect me.”
“And not us?”

“No” he said bluntly “I have my mutancy mixed with a man made chemical mixed with Sky’s blood. I am more than Sky’s fledgling and heir now, more than Hawko’s slave. He would not be able to touch me anymore, let alone control me. I am a child of prophecy, my existence was foretold-not just as an Idar but hundreds of years ago by my ancestors enemy.” As he spoke he was striding towards the cell, Morbane on his heels on the left and the other on his right.

Flinging open the door he entered the dark cell with barely a wince.

He heard the voice cut off, breath a little bit hurried but sudden silence that stretched on as either waited for the others word or action. Widening his eyes slightly Rick adjusted his sight so the darkness lifted to resemble daylight, only in a slight red tinge.

Then quietly, seriously, he said “hello Hawko.”

Eagle\The Renegade was chained heavily to the stonewall, pale and thin, eyes shinning at his own adjusted sight and the evil presence that now manipulated the once gentle man-creature. On the outside looking in instead of the inside looking out now he was faced with the same sight and feel of the evil presence his father and the others had seen in him not long ago and could see what had unnerved them so.

Pure evil, pure malevolence for all other life looking out at him-worse than anything Zimmer could ever wish for and now he saw Rick knew who was the worse, even though his past deeds were so bad there was at least some shred of humanity left in the alien, not so the Renegade.

How could Sky have been so blind?

How desperate for a child, an heir had Sky been that he could ignore or deny that constantly when it was so obvious, even to Eagle and Dove? Why had he continued to deny even when others he had loved and trusted saw it as well?

Rick would never make that mistake, he swore to himself, he would never take the word of another over those he loved and cared for, he would never be so blind. Knowledge suddenly came to mind, Sky had been human and vulnerable to the illusion of love Hawko had weaved around him. He was from a small isolated village and except for what he experienced in that small community he had never come up against such trickery and lies, of course he believed them.

The figure looked shocked, horrified, then pissed off before the words sunk in and it was hidden with a blank expression “whatever do you mean, fledgling?”

Rick adjusted his sight again, not fooled for an instant by the pleasant gentle voice “you can deny all you want, Renegade, but I SEE YOU. I have been through some…changes lately and my new sight is one affect. I see you crouched inside Eagle like some great fat leech-it is just so YOU.”

The face twisted in fury and he snarled loudly “how dare you! You still belong to me-I will make you regret that!”

“You can try” Rick was still calm “but that will not work, not anymore. So with Eagle once I am through. I know about the two days you had him at your mercy, taking his half-human blood and replacing it with your own, then wiping his memory so you had an spy among the Idars, one no one would suspect-least of all Eagle himself. Who would suspect their own leader and protector? But you made one mistake Hawko, by killing Sky you revealed yourself.”

“I was not aiming for Sky, slave, I was aiming for you. He just got in the way as usual.”

“And that was your mistake. His blood, life and soul are now a part of me, for the rest of my existence and you will never touch me again-or anyone I care for or protect-your days are numbered. Leave now and you may have a chance.” A pause, then raucous laughter “oh slave! Do you not know, you cannot harm me! I am your master no matter who you befriend or crawl to for help! You belong to me and always will, just as this one does!”

“I do not think so. We will not let you.” This came not for Rick himself but two figures silhouetted in the doorway. Immediately Hawko\Eagle went sweet again “arh, brothers, free me now for I am much better.”

“I do not think so” both strode into the room, dogs by their sides and followed by a flood of other Idars and their companions. They surrounded the old leader of their people, now possessed “not after what we just witnessed.”

Hawko\Eagle’s eyes met Rick’s over their heads; angry “you showed them everything!”

“Of course” Rick was calm, even with that, every time Hawko got angry he got more confident, knowing the Renegades control of this situation was slipping away. They would definitely get Eagle back from him; there was no other option, his eyes shone. “Every gloat, every word you said they saw and heard through me and Sky’s blood.”

Hawko’s absolute fury seemed to make his control slip over Eagle for the eyes became suddenly terrified and he managed to gasp out “I am sorry brothers! I tried to tell you so many times what happened to me then but I COULD NOT, he stopped me and I could not fight it, no matter how hard I tried!”

“We know brother and understand now. You had no choice, we shall free you, do not worry.”

“Kill me!” he gasped, obviously struggling Hawko for a few more seconds to tell them his last wishes “I can not stand this anymore! He has been using me to get secrets from our people for years, I CAN NOT take it and the guilt of what I have done, give me final peace and let me be free and by Sky’s side with the Great Spirit! Kill me as a warrior so I can be worthy of his love!”

“I am sorry brother” the youngest gave a choked sob and brought out a shaft of sharp wood from his coat. But two things happened at once, the first Eagle’s dog growled and launched itself forward, jumping onto the younger and bringing him to the floor, jowls locked threateningly around the throat. The second was Rick snapped “NO!” and stepped forward, flowing through the crowd like air and barely touching any despite the shoulder to shoulder way they stood in front of him. He stood in front of the prisoner, blocking their way to him “there is another way.”

“No there is not!” Eagle screamed, body-bending double in the chains as he fought against the pain Hawko summoned to break his control and interference. Oh but didn’t Rick know that feeling. He calmly spoke again “There IS a way, but Hawko is making you blind with fear and pain. It is how he works; using pain and all your negative emotions to get to you-just as he did to me after he first attacked me. Sky saved me and I am going to return the favor by saving his first.” He turned to the crowd “your brother may not want it though, guilt can be a killer if it is allowed to fester and hide. If I do this you ALL will be needed to heal his mind and soul.”

“Do it” Little Eagle said, trying to talk around the teeth pressed to his throat, but as soon as he did the dog climbed off, was snapped at by the others dog, words or meaning obvious ‘don’t do that ever again,’ but he turned his head up at the other and went to Eagle’s side, licking his leg and looking up at the chained other.

This meaning was clear too in two terms-one- ‘he is mine to love and protect’ and, to Eagle-two-‘I am here for you.’ Eagle helplessly looked down at this to find his dog’s eyes locked to his. He was unable to look away, unable to fight the hypnotic lure of the animal’s eyes locked to his.

Morbane nudged Rick’s leg for attention and when he looked down at it the dog pushed him towards the chained figure, eyes saying ‘what are you waiting for-do it!’ Rick realized that the dogs were more intelligent than he thought, they were working together to help him help Eagle, the other dog keeping Eagle with them while Rick helped him free his body and soul from the evil presence infesting it.

Rick pursed his lips and nodded, starting forward when someone stopped him firmly with “no.”

At first he feared they were going to go through with killing Eagle but the figure shook his head at him and turned to the others “he is our leader now by Sky’s decree, we can not let him, not when WE can do it ourselves.”

“What do you mean?” Little Eagle frowned before Rick could protest. “We have to purge him of Hawko’s blood inside him, then replace it with true Idar. Because the Renegade infected Sky’s heir, any more of his blood will make him his, but a little of that blood spread out evenly among us…”

“NO!” Eagle wrenched his eyes away to them “I will not let you risk it! I will not let you all risk yourselves for me!” Knowing they had seconds before they lost him Rick moved aside “you will have to do it and do it now. He will be lost to us if he gives up. About four mouthfuls should do-each.”

Little Eagle nodded and was the first to move forward. They needed to hold Eagle to the wall and still as he shrieked and struggled. He cried out in pain and horror, trying to stop him and his brother didn’t have time to make it painless, he cut open his own wrist, sealed it against his mouth and while two others held Eagle’s head still as well his long teeth cut into his brother’s throat.

He took his four mouthfuls while they forced Eagle to take his brothers. When Little Eagle moved away the younger one-Wild One-was next. After him was Little Plains then his brother White Rabbit and then his love White Bird.

By the time they reached the near-end of ‘Eagle’s blood’ he was limp in his chains and people’s grips. He was trembling in cold and exhaustion as his body fought to digest the replacement blood fast enough to replace his loss and he sought to fight off the Renegades control, gasping desperately between force feeds-not just for breath but for life-for control.

Finally both Rick and Eagle heard a scream of frustration and fury and the evil presence was gone. “You can release him now” Rick told them “he is gone.”

At this Little Eagle cried out in joy and relief, two of the others removing the chains so, with a choked cry and his shaking legs collapsing under him he could tumble into a heap and openly sob brokenly-as Corin had only much worse. “Brother” Little Eagle tried to move forward, his heart breaking at his brothers anguish, but Rick stopped him “no, he has to do this alone. Come” and he lead everyone from the cell except the dog.

Before closing the door slightly behind him Rick glanced back to see Eagle in an helpless crumpled heap, face buried in his arms to muffle his crying but the dog seated by his side and ready for when he finally was able to accept another’s comfort. Sometimes the unconditional love and dedication of an animal was easier to accept than a person’s.

As they left the cells, dogs by their sides, Little Plains spoke to Rick “you know we could do the same for you.”
“I know,” he said calmly.

The American Indian Idar Brave glanced at him seriously for a second or so before he went on “but you would not accept it, would you.”

“No” he said bluntly, then-when the other said nothing more-he went on almost like an apology after heaving a sigh “I have to be careful now about whom I allow to feed from me. My blood is not just Hawko or Sky’s or even both together-I have something else in me that makes me unique-I do not know what it would do to any of you. I can take it-it is a part of me now-but you guys may not be so lucky.”

“It may poison or change us.” Rick nodded at this “or worse. Like Eagle I could not accept any consequences for that when it could have been avoided.”

“I understand better than you might realize. That is why I would be honored if you allow me to sup from you. I want to be the one to see if we can accept your blood. If it would do anything to us.”

“No” Rick said firmly “you have White Bird-if my blood poisons you I ruin that. After ruining Cathy and my chance at being together I am not separating another couple.”

“I understand the risks and accept them. Did it not occur to you that your blood is as it is now meant to be? That your blood is meant to be spread among the Idars to change us as well, make us different to the Renegades such as Hawko?”

Rick hesitated, thinking. What if he was right? The Idars had been exactly the same-except some occasional new blood-for hundreds of years. If any race was to truly survive it had to change and grow-to evolve-but the Idars couldn’t like humans and mutants could.

What if his blood, containing both elements of the past-Sky-and present-Hawko, which also made it all that was good and evil, and Rick’s blood as a mutant coupled with the man-made drug, symbolizing the future, was meant to be spread among the Idars and ‘evolve’ them? What if he was the key to their change as a race?

“I do not know,” he murmured out loud “It just might be Hawko making me think this so I infect you all. I need Eagle’s opinion first. It feels right but I am not so sure about the risk.”

“Well I am” Little Plains frowned at him “and we do not have enough of Hawko’s blood inside us to interfere with our decisions. You said it feels right and it does so to us as well, only because of Hawko the others do not want to admit it to themselves, well I will. This time Sky got the heir thing right. Because you brought us our companions and wanted to save Eagle with your own live if need be they will trust and believe in you now, so they will all agree with me, and I want to be the first to do it. Let us exchange blood, you and I, and when the others come to join us we will do this right. In fact I can sense the others stirring as they head this way, they will be here shortly, let us help you fight Hawko with our blood.”

Richard frowned as he stepped closer, as if his body wanted it even if his mind was reluctant. “How do you know Hawko does not wish this? His blood could be infecting your decision. Even if he has not it means I will be able to connect and even control any of you if I wished.”

“I trust you, even without tasting you” Little Plains locked to his eyes and showed him just how serious he was by opening his mind to him, “now you show how much of Sky is in you and trust US.”

Rick tried one last time “I can not change your mind about this?” he turned to see the others gathering in the entrance behind him “ALL your minds?”

“No” Little Eagle said for them ”you were wiling to risk yourself for Eagle, for US, let us risk ourselves to help YOU. Our blood will give yours a boost and strength to resist Hawko no matter what he tries. Will you trust US.”

“You are all Sky’s people” Rick said as if that should be all the explanation he needed “whether old ones or new generation you are part of his life and death. I trust you all, I just do not know if I can trust myself.” Little Eagle walked forward as he took his arm and pulled him deeper into the caves “sometimes your belief in others is all that you need.”

Rick reluctantly let himself be towed away, the others falling in line behind them, Little Plains on his other side and for the time it took for them to reach the large open chamber where the Idars had cots set out for socializing and blood exchanges he fought with his fear and desire to run instinctively, for the group to do this would mean multiple blood exchanges, being touched and held, maybe even held down, how would he be able to take it without flashing on what that asshole did to him when he was nine? It would be too close to it, being held down while someone did something that would definitely hurt him.

Little Eagle seemed to sense it and frowned “you do not like being touched, do you? That is a problem for both us and your time among us, have you not noticed?” he motioned at the group and that’s when he noticed it, they ALL were touching each other in one way or another, whether the comforting touch of each others shoulders-between fledgling and master and then the loving touch of couples, even a few same-sex couples. They all seemed not care about appearance where in normal society same sex couples were treated like something to be ignored.

The younger brother of Eagle was going on “Idars are touchers, not just because of our relationship to each other but because long ago we realized it was what we truly were, feeding is a form of touch and so is the exchange, we are truly giving ourselves and the ultimate love to each other, after all, done right feeding can be a form of orgasm. Is it not it?” He looked around to the others who all nodded and agreed.

Little Plains spoke out “what happened to you was a violation of our gift to make others and Sky was trying to save your life, not use our ability to create pleasure-or at least make it enjoyable. He was afraid you’d react to it as if you were being forced, like another form of violence. But if you consent we can make it enjoyable so it would be easier to accept.”

“How?” Richard was still afraid but also powerfully intrigued. As Little Eagle guided him onto a cot he explained, “by showing you how much it pleases US as it happens. In affect we just let you feel our pleasure through the blood. Do you wish to try it?”

“I do not know” he was still scared but the idea was appealing “if I stop you…”
“We will do it no longer, it shall stop, I assure you.”
“Good” he was relieved.

“What happened to you to fear touch so badly?” White Bird, Little Plain’s mate asked this. And because they were Sky’s and, yes, his people and because they had asked him he told them everything, Everything leading up, during and after, every fear and pain and feeling.

The group was horrified by this “to a child, by all the Great Spirit created, no wonder Sky was so determined to bring you in, only WE can show you the truth of touch.” This was said by one in the corner-Great Storm-if Sky’s memories were right.

Another, an American man about thirty in the corner frowned and asked firmly “what was this guy’s name? Did he ever tell you?” When Rick nodded and said thickly “Mallory St Croix” the man immediately swore vehemently. When Rick frowned and asked if he knew of him the other answered darkly “you could say that. That son-of-a-bitch kidnapped my sweet innocent Darcy and turned her into one of his sex models for his peodofiller mates before we found where he was keeping her. He escaped of course but when I got my precious Darcy back she was nothing but a husk, her mind had gone when he had raped her for so long” tears of blood filled the man’s eyes as he went on “she wouldn’t move or talk or eat and slipped into a coma from which she never awoke. She died in hospital two months after her rescue. My wife left me for the grief, I had no one left to share it with.”

Great Storm gasped where he was and approached the man, obviously his fledgling as he spoke thickly to him “that was why when I found you, you were trying to take your own life!”

The figure nodded, head down to hide his tears.

Rick felt a burn of pity and kind ship for this man, after his experience he had wanted to slip into a deep sleep and never wake up. But now he was glad he hadn’t so he could bring this man closure “It will please you to know then that the guy who rescued me was one of the original Idars-a vampire, and I watched him tear him open, he drank all his blood then ripped his body to shreds. If we do this I want YOU to be first. I want you to see his death through my memories, my blood. It is all I can do but it should give you some relief from the need for vengeance.”

The figure raised his tear-stained face and looked at him with a sniff “if you’re sure.”

“I am” Rick nodded as he rose from the cot and walked towards him, “you need this as much as I needed to tell my story to someone else and find another affected so much by that bastard. I know what pain is and I am grateful you told me.” He reached out to pull the man away from the wall, moving his hair from his neck so Rick could bare his own fanged teeth and move closer.

Before anyone could react he had flashed his head down to strike the man’s neck, teeth driving deep into his vein at the same time the other struck his exposed side with his own.

For long minutes they drank from each other until both were able to pull apart, gasping for breathe, the others eyes glowing strangely, not just with the affects of the blood filling his senses but a kind of deep retribution.

He had closure as he collapsed where he was sobbing brokenly, Thank you.”

Rick nodded, and while before touch made him fear, there was something intensely satisfying about this time, as if the man’s peace and ability to finally share his feelings and grief had healed him somehow. He was really helping people despite the people he had lost.

While Great Storm knelt beside his fledgling and held him Little Plains moved forward. However Rick shrank back a little, unsure and scared again. There was a difference between what they wanted to do with him and what had happened between himself and the American. He had done that willingly; it was giving the man the gift of life, of a new start with that memory to satisfy him. This was letting people touch him, hurt him.

He gathered his strength and looked at them “I can not help the way I am. You may have to take me.”
“What do you mean?”

“I mean what I was going to do with Eagle, take his blood then give it back by force.”
“Then we’ll just have to do the same thing with you we did with Eagle” another said, this one Italian.
“Only with more taking” Corin said, “then giving back.”

Rick nodded and moved to the cot, changed his mind and concentrated for a few seconds, saying haltingly “Eagle has left his cell. Perhaps we should go there.” At this they were agog, “it is really that bad?”

“It is” he nodded “I do not think you even begin to grasp what it is like to go through six months of that and knowing it will get worse, that there is no rescue and ever time you are touched it will begin again. Therapy helps but it does not lessen the memory of the agony and damage your body goes through. I was a child and while later on I MIGHT have had a chance of becoming gay without that a small boy should never have that experience. “

“I understand it,” the American said from his corner as his maker helped him up and to one of the other cots “I felt it through you and I know and understand your fear.” He looked at Little Eagle “let’s take a cot into the bigger cell, that way we could do it, but if it starts to get too much for him we can use the chains anyway. Any Idar who finishes with him can come here to recover, or get someone to help them here if it’s too much.”

“Good idea” Rick wondered why he hadn’t considered that. If it was too much they wouldn’t even have to hold him down. Chained he could move around if he wanted but just not RUN AWAY, it was perfect. He had no problem with the blood exchange in itself, only the fact he wouldn’t be able to move, to escape if the touch got too intense.

Little Eagle had no problem with that so while the American and his maker heaved a heavy looking cot the entire group followed Rick down to the dungeons, heading for a large thick door at the end. He opened and stood aside so they could carry it in and place it directly under the chains hanging from the wall.

Rick then sat down on it, waiting for everyone else to enter the room, saying softly “Corin should be first, he can not give me his own blood but he can take mine. That way the next person can take more and I will begin to hunger. If you all take from me first my hunger may blur my fear.”

They understood this, and Corin moved forward as he spoke “What about more than one at a time?”

“What do you mean?” Rick frowned at him so he continued, “One on either side of the neck and one at each wrist, it would mean quicker loss and you would begin to hunger after perhaps two or three times.”

But he shook his head solemnly “Hawko and his slaves did that to me just after he had first infected me. I was clouded, hungering and the pain was incredible. If you try that I may not be able to distinguish the difference.”

“Oh” Corin said nothing more before he asked “what about Little Plains and I on either side of your head. That way your arms are free and we can both work on making it pleasurable for you.”

After a hesitation Richard nodded “better chain me, just in case.”

Corin nodded, motioned the other forward and together they raised the teenagers unresisting arms above his head to lock the thick metal cuffs around his wrists. Another chain was pulled up, shoes pulled away so the new bottom ones could lock around each bare ankle tightly.

Tugging a little Rick tested them; frowning as he asked softly “what are they made of? I am stronger than before, stronger than Sky, but they seem to be too tough for me to break.”

“Adamantinum” the American said without hesitation “they have to be tough. When we capture Renegades they are usually high with those they’ve
killed. We needed something to stand up to that.”

“Good, now I probably could break them if I tried but if I try to get away while you are all feeding from me, I will not have the strength, even hungry.”

They nodded and Corin and Little Plain reached out to him, Rick curling his fingers in the chains above him, fighting his fear as the two towered over him. “Try kneeling beside the cot” the American suggested, “it’s because you’re in a position of power standing over him. If you’re equal in height to him it might make it easier to accept.”

He must have had something there for when both knelt down and Rick scooted forward on the cot as far as the chains would allow he found it easier on him. They just seemed less of a threat to his instincts than before.

Both leaned forward to him, mouths bared, one hand out to cup his shoulders in position. Rick tipped his head back slightly, giving them better access to his neck and better line of sight so they could go straight to the correct spot without even fumbling for the best area.

He cried out in pain and shock as the two sets of sharp hard teeth drove hard into his neck, body thrusting against the chains as he fought against the shock of pain and need to run away from it. He felt the two mouths moving around the fiery wounds, felt one tongue move over the flesh around the wounds, numbing it while Corin was unable, knowing his fire tongue would burn him and make it worse, so while one side of his throat was numbed the other continued to hurt.

The pain changed to a draining feeling filling his senses, driving his pain deeper until it was as if he was wrapped in a blanket. He couldn’t move, couldn’t struggle and instead he felt something close to pleasure filling him. His senses clouded and he felt like Cathrine was with him, her love and all those things they couldn’t say or do to each other was happening now.

The vision was so real that he was being caught up in it, the cell disappearing around him followed by the others until he and Cathrine were alone together.

And Cathrine was an Idar.

A small voice in the back of his head screamed “NOO!” at the sight and she spoke seductively as she slowly climbed up his body “why not?” Rick tried to pull away from her mouth, gasping out desperately “because it is MY destiny, not yours! You will have my children and grow old like everyone else who is normal, mortal!”

“But I’m not normal or even mortal, even before we met. I was not born or conceived, I was created and I will always be a young woman-just as my father was his physical age at the dawn of the human race and still will be at the end. It was he and Hauleric who birthed the mortal races, human AND mutant.”

“Hauleric!” came a male gasp from nowhere and the vision abruptly ended. He was back in the cell with Little Plains just pulling away from his neck while Corin was already away. Blood ran down his neck, hot and bitting at him with the smell to stain his collar, Little Plains frowning and leaning over to lick the wounds closed as he had done on his side.

For some reason Corin was almost hysterical as he grasped Richard shoulders and shook him “where did you hear that name!” Rick moaned as his neck was jarred “ow, I did not say it, Cathy did.”

At this Corin released him “That wasn’t a memory?”
“Cathy is not an Idar” he coughed, trying to recover “I hope she does not become one either.”

“That was too real to be your imagination” he said thoughtfully “tell me, have you ever had a dream like that which felt like it was part of daily memories, only to have it truly happen later on when you least expect it?”

“Most my life” he said thickly “usually only small things, like neighbours getting pregnant or getting or loosing that promotion they are after, but when I was fifteen…” he told them about his future self and the memories he had gleaned from it.

“My brother?” Little Eagle squeaked, stunned “you saw MY brother?”

“That’s not the point right now” Corin spun to face Little Eagle “I want to go to his home. One of his friends is older than my father race; he knew my father’s god, his ancestor and our first. I MUST see him, talk to him.”

“You can not” Rick spoke out “after taking my blood you must allow Payton and Anna to keep an eye on you all for a few days, just in case, otherwise you risk sudden mutations.” At this Great Storm frowned and spoke out “what about feeding? If we all stay here for a few days and nights how do we feed?”

“I will work that out with Anna and Payton, just trust me to care for and protect my people” he looked at Corin “wait here for a few days and I swear I shall get Tommas around here to see you himself.”

Reluctantly the red head agreed and they resumed their places at his neck, only this time Rick told them “no pleasure, the last time seemed wrong, perverted. I would rather feel the pain.” So this time both just put him into a half-aware trance that started to fade every time the ones feeding drew away, but started again when the next two took their place.

Finally they finished, released him and waited, Little Eagle waiting and ready for him should his hunger prove too strong and he try to feed too long from one, Corin by the young Idar’s side.

But they weren’t needed, Rick took only his allotted amount from each, the tremors of hunger slowly lessening until Corin returned from helping Little Eagle away to find him seated on the cot, head in hands and looking exhausted in every way.

He even sighed deeply.

Corin frowned in concern at the sense of emotional pain to him and sat down beside him. “What is it?” he asked gently and without even looking up he murmured thickly “I just realized I shall have to do Payton and Anna as well.”

“That’s not what’s upsetting you” Corin knew he was right somehow. Again the other sighed and this time raised his head to glance at him quickly “The vision of Cathy as an Idar. It can not be, we marry and she has my kids and I STAY as an Idar-I have accepted that-but not her, that part never comes into existence, she stays as she is now, perfect” he looked down at his hands again “it must be Hawko trying to influence me.”

“How do you know for sure she does not? It just may be wishful thinking that she doesn’t, that she gives you kids and such. Or she could be turned and when you destroy Hawko…”

“She becomes human-mortal again. That is what you are saying is it not? I will turn her and in order to free her from me I must kill Hawko.” At this Corin frowned deeply at him “you make it sound like YOU are the danger, not Hawko.”

“To the others I obviously am” he sighed again deeply “I think until I destroy Hawko it would be safer if I remain here.” Corin sighed deeply this time and stood “I came to tell you that the change has started. Lucian, Little Plains and Noel are already experiencing an fever that’s sky-rocketing.”

“What about you?” Rick looked up at him “you fed with Little Plains, you feeling anything yet?”

“No” he shook his head “but then I’m at least a third Fire Witch-if you count my human and Idar sides. Perhaps my Fire blood made me immune to the effects.”

“We will see” Rick stood up and visibly gathered his composure “let me see them.”

Helping him walk Corin lead him to the chamber filled with cots, only to find it was worse than before. Little Plains, the American and another were in the midst of a high fever, crying out in pain and tossing and turning violently while the others were starting to move on their cots, murmuring in discomfort and growing agony.

“I do not know what I can do, I will summon Anna and Payton, they will be able to help and keep an eye on them.” He then sent out an urgent message to the Negro couple and moved away to meet them.

Only to run into Eagle.

The Idar looked haunted, in mental pain but also tortured by guilt and fear, his dog by his side and constantly bumping him, as if trying to comfort him. The tormented Idar held his wrist out and offered and Rick looked at him blankly he looked heart broken “I do not disserve the ‘gift’ you gave my family?” Before Rick could speak he drew away “no, of course I do not.”

Knowing if he didn’t do anything now it would mean Eagle would leave the Idars for good, believing he wasn’t worthy of such a family, that if the guilt was strong enough he might even take his own life he did the only thing he could do. He seized the Idar, pulling him to him and bit into his neck, forcing the others to his.

This wouldn’t have been going on more than a minute when they heard a cry of familiar swear words and someone was there, trying to pry them apart. Rick only backhanded him across the cavern.

“Son of a bitch!” Payton swore at them “you call us urgently and we find you like this, what did you assume we were going to think!” Rick just pointed without moving away or pausing. Frowning Payton followed the finger to down the hall, dragging Anna with him, leaving Rick and Eagle to continue undisturbed.

Suddenly Eagle pulled away and reluctantly Rick released him, without a word helping him down the hallway to join the others in the room, dogs at attention by their master’s cots and calmly watching Payton and Anna move between the make-shift beds to try and help the Idars and make them more comfortable.

And Corin still seemed uninfected, calmly helping the half mutant half Idar Negro with whatever he requested. Only as Rick set Eagle out on his cot he noticed that the Fire Idar was growing visibly colored until he cried out “Payton, Corin!”

The Negro instantly knew, used his Idar speed and caught the Fire Idar as he collapsed, carrying the red head to the nearest empty cot. Once Eagle was comfortable Rick approached the Negro couple, saying softly “they will be fine, this will soon wear off and they will be fine. For now we can just try to make them more comfortable and keep an eye on them.”

“Why did you do it? You’ve infected them with Hawko’s blood. Now he might be able to control them.”

“No, Hawko will NEVER control me or any one I care for ever again. Besides, they decided to do it themselves. They essentially said my blood is the next stage in their evolution” and he told them every thing that was said and done.

“So they were infected through Eagle anyway,” Payton said as he rolled Little Plains onto his back as the young-looking Idar nearly rolled off his cot. When Rick nodded solemnly Anna added “you gave them your blood so they would share your power to resist.”

When he nodded again and added for himself “and you both will need to taste it as well” both Negro’s refused, “we’re staying as we are, here and now. We don’t want to risk not being able to turn back.”

“You will be more open to Hawko’s influence that way.”

“We’ll just have to risk it” Payton said thickly and Rick frowned at him “what about Annas choice?” From the corner where she stood over Great Storm Anna spoke out “I’m with Payton.”

“If you are sure then I will say nothing more of it.” When both said in union “We’re sure” Rick shrugged and turned back to the group. By now Little Plains and the two men-Lucian the American and Noel a French men were already growing the wings painfully, a few of the others glowing lumps between their shoulder blades on either side of the spine, the beginning of wings.

Corin, although he was not tossing and turning like the others, was also raging in fever, his pale-pale skin visibly darkening and going almost red. Suddenly in the corner Little Plains gasped loudly and sat up, eyes blurry but the shaking and fever were gone and he seemed tired but fine.

It took the entire night for the rest to reach Little Plains stage, Rick and Payton carrying them to their rooms & beds or earth holes to sleep the day away.
While Rick dozed on one cot Payton and Anna kept a loose eye on the tribe but stayed close to Corin. As a Fire Child his blood and biology were different enough to worry them. The others had obviously taken to the change just as Rick had and were going to be fine, but Corin was different to them. Little Eagle had told them before he slept that Corin had barely took to the Idar side originally, that he had felt if the boy hadn’t of been dying in the first place his body would have fought it off.

Early the next day, VERY early, Payton shook Rick awake with a frown “something’s wrong.”
“What do you mean?” he yawned and started to sit up when he remembered “The others!”

“Are fine” Payton soothed him back down “I’m not talking about them. I’ve been trying to call Central Command for over an hour and no one’s answering. I’m worried about Pet…them.” Rick didn’t notice the slip, only rolled over and motioned Payton away sleepily “they are fine, let me sleep.”

“What makes you so sure about that?”

“Because they would contact me or use their emergency beacons if they were in trouble or danger” and was asleep before Payton could speak again. So he returned to where Anna was watching over Jeffery’s change, not giving her the chance to speak “how is he?”

“Stable thanks to Sings The Storm. She said that she knew he’d end up here sooner or later.” Payton frowned at her with
“What do you mean?”

“Apparently since his mutant abilities came in they’ve been able to talk to each other. It was his only relief, he could concentrate on her and not get blasted by her thoughts, that’s why he and Alex broke up, they fell in love.”

“Did he know what she was?”

“No, he thought she was just a fellow telepathic mutant. She told him not to go to the center but he truly thought they could help him. Now he’s here they can be together and she can teach him control over his abilities. What did Rick say?”

“That if anything was wrong they would contact him or let him know.” At this Anna frowned at him, disturbed by the way he shrugged it off “did you tell him about your premonition?”

“I would hardly call them that Anna.” She looked at him in horror “you didn’t, did you! Why not! If he knew about them…”

“It doesn’t matter” he interrupted her firmly “he was still too pale for my liking, he’s had too much to try and handle at once without time to rest and recover. Besides my feelings aren’t always right, you know that. We’ll see what happens, the Protectors can take care of themselves. Besides their dogs will sense and warn them.”

“I hope you’re right Pay baby, because if you’re not…”
“I know” he sighed.