Disclaimer: I do not own Magnificent 7, World of Darkness, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Wolf Lake, or Kindred: The Embraced.
Summary: One can no more choose one's family than command the stars in the sky. That is, unless one is an orphan. _______________________________________________________
Autumn - 1981.
Movement in the hay caused the horses to stir. Shuffling in their stalls, they shifted about uneasily, sensing something unusual was happening. It was late enough they should have been sleeping, but each of them was alert and pacing. A violent cracking sound spooked a couple and they charged the stall doors.
The Hand on duty came out of his office swearing. "Jimmy, Red, Andre, get Pete and Big Lyle with the guns, I think that damned mountain lion is back." Rushing through the barn he checked each of the stall doors to make sure they would hold against the onslaught. At the last door, he had to jump away when the white stallion kicked the door off its hinges. "Son of a bitch! Hurry up, Captain's Pride is making a break for it," he called from the far side of the barn where he had landed.
A dirty blonde man jumped down from the hay loft into a group of strawl bales at the end of the barn. Pulling on his work gloves, he grabbed for the ropes hanging from the last stall. "Larry, I got Captain, you get Lilly's stall open so we can put them together. She'll calm him down!"
Laughter filled the barn as several men in various states of dress filed in, two with shot guns. They had to duck out of the way when the wild eyed horse charged the main doors and bounced off. "Crazy bastard! You aint gonna get out that way, them doors are designed to keep you in."
Captain's Pride ran at the double doors again only to smack them and rebound once more. On the bounce back, the lasso wrapped around his neck. He reared up to pull the attacker off balance, but two more ropes joined around his neck and jerked the horse off balance.
Larry opened the stall door and tossed dirt to keep Lilly in. "Hurry up, this nag is wantin out!"
"Keep your shirt on, Larry, we gotta lock this bastard down and teach him who is boss." The original lasso handler tugged at Captain's bridle when the horse regained his footing. Giving the horse a bop in the middle of his forehead, he got the crazed animal's attention. "Settle down, mule!"
Captain knickered his anger but came when his bridle was jerked.
"Careful on that, Red, he'll jerk your arm off!" Big Lyle loaded his shot gun while watching the dirty blonde guide the horse. "You guys keep an eye on these edgy beasts, make sure they don't go nuts. If things don't settle down, use the tranques."
Pete, the second man toting a shotgun, also locked in a couple cartridges in the chambers. Hoisting the weapon up, he nodded at Big Lyle. He gestured towards the right side of the barn.
"Yeah, Pete, I'll take the left. Get movin. Don't shoot unless you have a clear shot of something that intends to kill ya. I don't want you killing anymore of the barn cats because you saw a flash of eyes." Big Lyle slapped the barrel of his shot gun and moved along the left side of the large barn. "You guys get them mules quieted, I can't hear a damn thing over their bellows!"
A loud wail piereced the inside of the barn causing the horses to shriek. The men moved in quickly to the source of the cry.
Red was the first one on the scene. In the corner of Captain's stall another shrill cry echoed. Bending down, Red started cooing and smiled. "What have we here? Where's your mommy?" He reached out and grasped the baby's hand, then pulled back. Staring at his green covered fingers with a frown, he reached back down to pick up the infant. "Guys, I think we gotta problem."
"What is it, Red?" Big Lyle shoved his way through the crowd of Ranch Hands. Upon seeing the baby in Red's arms, he froze. "Where did that come from?"
"I dunno, I just found him back here covered in green slime. There's a leather bag back here too, it has more goop in it." He toed it with his boot, kicking it out of Captain's hay. "I think someone left him here."
"Oh lord, not again." Big Lyle lowered his gun and shook his head. "Larry, best get back up to the house and tell him another one was left here. Make sure he gets the doc and brings Jeri with him."
"What do you mean, another one?" Red held the dark haired infant to him, shaking it as he started to cry. "You mean people have left their new borns here before?"
"Not people, Red, person. I hope they killed the son of a bitch this time." Shaking his head, Big Lyle held out an arm for Red to come. "Best not get too attatched to him, Red. Jeri is raising the other three, another one won't make a difference."
"Where is his momma?" Red refused to let the others touch the child.
"Dead if she is lucky. Birthing that thing back there would have been hell on the strongest. Not many women survive laying an actual Egg." Slapping Red on the back, Big Lyle helped him through the assembled Hands. "Give him some space, ya bunch of horses' asses."
"What happened to the father, is that who put the... egg back there?" Red shushed the baby while rocking him. "Come on, sweet pea, calm down."
"Oh boy, you're already hooked. Jeri is gonna sattle you with that infant before you can blink. As for your question, the father leaves them here cause he knows we will take his bastards in. We won't let no one but his sorry ass go without. Hope this time that hit squad kills him. Them drum beaters really aint too keen on his kind breeding with theirs." He ran a finger down the baby's back and whistled. "Looks like he got himself a white woman this time. Poor bitch never stood a chance."
Blue eyes blinked up at him through tears.
"You're gonna be a heart breaker, you are. With them baby blues, aint gonna be no woman tell you no." Big Lyle shook it off as the barn door opened again. "Thank god, you're here, woman. This little devil's bewitchen us all."
Jeri took one look at the green coated baby and shook her head. "I'll call the sheriff, tell him to be on the look out for a body."
"A white woman this time."
"Damn. That's all we need, a prejudiced ass with a flaming cross waving his prick and a dead body at us. I'll tell Reese to expect the boys in the bed clothes soon and to hide the kids. Now lets see who we have here." She reached out for the baby, but smiled when Red edged away from her hands. "Looks like this one's got a daddy at least. You gotta name aside from Red?"
Red nodded. "Folks back East call me Daemon."
Jeri shook here head. "Red's good enough. Come along, lets get some food in Junior before he screams the roof off."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spring - 1985.
The town meeting erupted in anger as more and more people started making demands of the company that had bought up their valley. What had been substance farming had dwindled to vagrantism. The water from the mountains had been redirected and the droughts finally gotten to the crops. Entire families had been forced to sell to the company and moved to the big city.
Three year-old JD sat in Red's lap and tried to see above the crowd. His legs and feet were stretched to the max and he kept trying to get Red to lift him up. "I want up!"
"No, JD, it's pointless." Shaking his head, Red decided it was best to be moving on. Standing up, he grabbed JD in his arms and started for the door. If they wanted to continue on with this bullshit, let them. He wanted none of it.
Things had been getting bad since Leospot Inc. had taken control of the ranch from Big Lyle. Many of the hands had lost their living and been forced to head off to places unknown. Red and Jeri had been lucky that the company needed good publicity and created an orphanage for the ranch's kids. However, with the support dwindling to almost nothing these past six months, it was only a matter of time before they couldn't afford even to take care of themselves.
About to reach the doors, he found his way blocked by a man in an expensively taylored suit. Red knew trouble when he spotted it and this man reeked of it. "Out of my way, mister, I don't want none of yours."
Ezra adjusted the brim of his hat, pushing up the flat black leather. Dark blue eyes twinkled in amusement at the sight of JD. Reaching out a hand, he caught the black haired kid's hand in his own. "Who might you be, son?"
"He is my son!" Red tried to pull back from the stranger but found himself unable to move. Against his will, he handed JD over to the man. "Please, sir, we don't want any thing."
"But you will, one day, everyone does." Ezra tucked a finger under JD's chin and tickled his neck. "This one is special, like the others."
"No, he's a normal boy." The automatic lie came easy to him dispite the overwhelming urge to be truthful with Ezra.
"So he will remain, if you give him to me." Adjusting his grip on the boy, Ezra traced his finger over dark long hair. "Give him to me and I will make sure all of your boys remain as they are, never know the horrors of their heritage." When he saw Red freeze, he smiled. "Oh yes, I know of that dreadful bit of business. It is a factor of their existance that will come in to play for your oldest very soon. I can make it all go away, your troubles, your sons' pains, all of it."
"The devil will tempt you..."
"Do not attempt to quote scriptures to a being far older than your religion." Smiling, Ezra turned away from the boy and stepped closer to Red. "It only serves to make me laugh."
Reaching out to take JD from the man, Red over came the terror. "Give me my son."
"I do not want to seperate you before either of you are ready. All I ask is that you say he is mine and all your troubles are gone." Ezra waited until the man snatched JD back from his arms before pressing again. Taking another step towards Red, he held out a hand to cup his face. "Say JD is mine."
"He's mine."
"For now."
"Please, he's my son."
"And mine too."
Red came to with a start. He was still sitting in his chair, holding a struggling JD wanting to stand up. "Come on, JD, let's go." A cold chill spread through his face where the stranger had touched his cheek in the dream.
Deputy Sheriff Daemon (Red) Dunne sat astride the new horse provided him by his position. The Green River Valley County Sheriff's division were not allowed but two vehicles and those were for emergencies only. Most residents got around on wagons or horse back themselves, so it served him to do the same. The only cars in the valley were for special purpose and required a county permit. In fact, the only gas station in town was run by the Sheriff.
There were very few paved roads through the valley and of those, most of them led to the cliff tops where the old service roads ran. Most of the roads were less than five years old yet many of them were so over grown with greenery that people forgot their true age. It was his duty to protect those few roads that remained.
In the saddles upon the ponies behind him sat the seven Dunne boys. The oldest at sixteen was also a deputy while the others were juniors in training. There were another five groups of his kids, all orphans, aiding the other deputies guarding the rest of the valley. With thirty-four heads, not including the adults, to account for, it was a chore running the orphanage, yet they managed. He was just grateful all the kids were old enough to ride.
Movement out of the corner of his eye had his chest twitching in regret. JD was the youngest of his kids and also the most adventurous. Every time there was trouble it would be a sure bet JD was at the center of it, either the cause or an investigator. His son was a born law man. "What do you think caused it, JD?"
JD siddled up to his father's mare with his two year old filly. Glancing at the cracks in the pavement in the shape of large foot prints, JD frowned. "I'd say it was the Stoneman. Rumor had it he and the brood of caitiff hangers-on were coming here. Or so Jimmy's father said."
"We need to round up a search party and inform the elders. They might even bring in the ancient to deal with him. A brood that large needs a lot of food and the only thing edible around here for them is us." Giving JD a frown, he nodded ahead. "We need to complete our rounds before we report it, see if there is anything out there."
"Okay." JD lost some of his enthusiasm. At his brother's snickers, he turned a glare on them. "Bite me!" Kicking his poney in to action, he drove the animal onwards.
Duke, the oldest, growled as he kicked his own pony in to gear. In another two years he would have a horse like his father and be able to lead the teams. He looked forward to that day, then he would show JD who was boss!
JD danced out of reach of his older brothers, the basket ball bouncing between his hands. When Daniel pushed forward, he drove it between his brother's legs and ran around him. Making for the basket he was almost there when the wolf ran on to the court, took the ball from him and ran back the other way. "Foul! Foul!"
Slobbering on the ball, the werewolf shook it from side to side. As the Dunne boys tried to corner it, the werewolf growled and menacingly gnawed at the ball.
Duke held up a hand to signal them to stop. "Just give us back the ball, Marty. I told you I wouldn't be home for another hour this morning when I left. Today is the day with my bros."
Spitting out the ball, the wolf shifted back to human and glared at her husband. "Your father he sent you off early to pick up something for Jenny. That means you weren't with them all day."
"If you got a problem with him picking up something for our sister, get over it." Grabbing the ball up, JD wiped it off on his pants before walking back to the court.
Rico grabbed the ball from JD and rubbed him on the head. "Stuff it squirt, she's pregnant and female wolves are territorial."
"But she's our sister, that's disgusting her thinking they would do anything. I never want to be with a girl if they are all so stupid." Punching Rico in the gut, he took the ball back and ran for the edge of the court. When he reached the end this time, he jumped and threw the ball, cursing when it sailed over the board. "Damn it!"
"JD!" Red slid from his horse to stand on the edge of the tarmac. Glancing at his eldest, he smiled. "Sorry, Duke, she just came barging in making all these accusations. I barely had time to get my head up from the books before she was off."
"That's okay, Dad." Not taking his eyes from the bitch, he stood his ground. "Go home, Marty, let Little Mother take care of you."
"I don't want that old whore touching me. And I don't want you fucking that whore you call a sister either." Stepping forward, she pointed a clawed hand in his direction. "You don't think I know about you two, but I got eyes and a nose, I know what I know!"
"Are they always this stupid?" Having retrieved the ball, JD stood beside his brothers again and glared at his sister-in-law. "Go home, Martha! You've gone loco en the cabasa again!"
She started at him, eyes flashing yellow and growling. "Back off, child!"
"Eat shit, fatty, I'm not scared of you. These other pussy whipped dumb asses might bow at your feet, but I don't!" When she started for him, he tossed the ball at her face slamming it directly between her eyes. She hit the ground and slid to a stop at his feet. When she looked up at him, pain in her eyes, he bent down and ran a hand through her hair. "Either learn control or you're going to lose to the beast. Little Mother is right about that."
Duke shoved his brother away from Marty and bent down to scoop her up in his arms. "Don't touch her, you little bastard!"
"Look who's talking. You know what Little Mother says about her psycho-spells. She would have killed you and probably the rest of us. Just because you are too scared for the pups don't mean I am." Standing up, JD shoved the dirt from his pants. He found himself the center of attention and frowned. "What? You bunch of cowards wanna say somethin?"
When they continued to glare at him, JD flipped them off and stormed away. Who needed the whole group of ass holes anyways? He got tired of them ignoring the warnings, Marty was going insane and should have been elimanted as a pup as was the laws. Had she not been the only surviving pup of her generation, she would have been.
As he passed his father, JD gave him a look. His old man only shook his head so he kept on walking. Grabbing his pony by the bridle, he slipped up over her neck and on to her back. He kicked the pony in to a gallop and rode out. If they came to their senses, they knew were to find him.
JD took his seat on the tribal council and folded the blanket about him. Despite there being a large fire at the center of the teepee, the cold still invaded their meeting place. Tonight would be his first meeting among the elders as represenative to his family as opposed to just a listener. He was by rights a man among these people and thus had earned a place among them. That and the fact that no one else among his extensive family wanted the job.
As they had told him, most of what went on was just smoke signals and buffalo chips. Like now, He Who Wonders the Prarries was telling a story about Screaming Eagle and Two Buffalos. The old man used his hands to gesture the words as he spoke, but the cold keeping his usual sweeping gestures to the confines of his blanket.
Most of the teepee was filled with men nearly seven times his age. Men who remembered times when the states were not completely united. Men who remembered the home lands of their people. They were still bitter about the white men and were very vocal about it.
Not that JD paid any mind, at times he found himself caught up in their fervor and agreeing. The injustices done to their people was offensive even to him. Four of his blood related brothers were Indian, but he was the only one to care about that. Just in case, he tried to learn enough about their families and people for the future. Everything he learned now would be easier to keep record of later.
JD was the first to notice that the room seemed to grow colder despite the fire. Glancing about the teepee, he saw the others take notice too. Something was among them that wasn't part of the group.
As if summoned from the shadows, a figure coalesced at the head of the Tribe of Elders. Hair catching red in the fire light, the blue eyes twinkled with amusement. "How many times are you going to tell that story, He Who Wonders the Prarries?"
"Until the winds silence my voice." Adjusting his blanket in offended motions, the Indian Elder glowered at the ancient. "Why have you returned? The lands are peaceful when you are away."
"They are peaceful because I protect you." At their knowing glares, he sighed and adjusted his stance to a careless sprawl. "Had I known the warm reception I would get, I would have brought an iceburg. You will simply have to settle for a hard winter."
"Is that all you wish to tell us, Coyote?" Another spit upon the fire causing the flames to rise for a bit before settling back to a small cackling.
"You flatter me, but as I have corrected you before, I am not this Coyote person. My persona is much older among the legends of your people." With a disgusted sigh, he sat up and stared directly at JD. "You will prepare yourself, child. The true test of your man hood will come soon. As is the customs of the people, your first time with a woman will determine your future."
"The young man has already been tested by the people and has become a man." Shedding Dog leaned forward, jaw set in a determined expression. His steel eyes spoke of anger at the ancient for his trouble. "You have not the place among our number."
Laughing, the creature's image shifted until he was revealed for the man beast he was to them. Leopard fur covered most of his body, whiskers on his face and claws on his fingers. Blue eyes kept their stare at JD. "It is by my will, that will which was given to me by the Great Mother as was given her by the Dark Mother, that you must be judged. The test of the people is not mine, your heritage forbids it. Prepare yourself, the time is coming." With a careless wave at the men, the figure exploded in shadows.
JD shivered and held off the sinking feeling with a laugh. When he realized he was alone, he blinked at the others. "What?"
"You are not the first to be tested by the Ancient. Each of your brothers has gone through him and never been the same after." Crying Bear leveled his voice with the whisper of the winds, the solemn tone making the others nod. "They are stripped of themselves and made man, such is the power of the Ancient. Not a taint of their true father remains and they are now the sons of the one called Red."
Staring across the bed at Casey nervously, JD held the blankets up to his chin and covered his body. "Uh..."
"Yeah." She giggled with the same embarrassed nerve. "We going to?"
"No... I mean, I don't know." He glanced at her body and found there was no reaction. He tried to picture her nude under the covers and found the image came easily to mind, but in perfect scientific method. There was nothing sexually appealing about her to him. "Sorry, but..."
"Don't worry about it, I'm glad. Your brothers all got their girls pregnant the first night." Sitting up with relief, the seventeen year old girl let the cover fall to he waist. "Not that I don't like you, it's just, we're still kids, I don't want one of my own. I saw how much hell your neices and nephews are on your sisters and I don't like it!"
"Yeah, try watching them for a night, all of them!" Laughing, JD sat up too. His back against the head board, he stretched out and laid back. Scratching at his head, he stared up at her through his long, tassled hair. "I can't believe they made us do this."
"Families are weird." Casey climbed out of the bed, unselfconscious of her own nudity. Heading for the table that held their clothes, she picked up her pants and shirt.
JD watched her move, clinically noticing everything his brothers and friends had said that caught their eyes. It still did nothing for his soft penis. Glancing down at the lump in the blanket, he tried to will it move. It was no use, his dick was dead when it came to Casey.
Casey tighted up the draw strings on her pants and let her shirt fall over them. Turning back to JD, she put on the plantation hat her sister gave her. "Glad we talked about this JD, now what are we going to tell the elders?"
"Tell them what you want, I'm gonna tell them the truth." He slid down in the covers and brought them up under his arm. "Hit the light when you go, would ya?"
"Sure, JD." She moved for the door. Hand resting on the light switch, she glanced over her shoulder at him. "JD."
Fidgiting in front of the Council of Elders, JD held his hands at his side. His fingers played with the tassles cut from the seams of his pants as the Council debated his future. They had summoned him here upon learning that Casey was still a virgin by the blabber mouth sister of his. Apparently she had noticed that Casey was on her period and wouldn't keep it to herself. That was okay, if he survived tonight, he would come up with suitable things to teach her kids to punish her.
The clearing of the spokesman's throat allerted him that they had reached a conclusion. Staring straight at the man, he tried not to shift.
"JD. The rites of passage are set up to help aid a young man in to adult hood, to make the transition as painless as possible. It is the responciblity of the tribe to ensure our future through reproduction. Your heritage being as it is makes yours an even more dangerous transition. That you have missed the point where it could begin is enough to warrant the severest of penalties."
JD had expected nothing less. He was prepared to fight his way free if he had to. There was a horse out passed the edge of the meeting camp, and a car at the edge of the valley. It would be little effort for someone as small and quick as him.
Raising their hands, the Elders began a chant.
The spokesman stepped forward. "You are to have no carnal contact with any woman, ever. Time has gone too far for you to overcome your heritage, and the touch of your seed would be a death sentence to any who bore it. We are sorry, but this is as it must be."
As the chanting came to a crecendo, JD felt something in his body tighten and then release.
"Forever, JD, you shall not be able to become physically arroused by a woman, and the touch of them shall be painful. So shall it be."
Grinning inside, JD nodded. So there would basically be nothing new to him.
Eyes blinked behind the binoculars in pain as a light flashed up from across the valley. "God damn it, Buck! Josiah, get on the horn and tell that ass to drop the mirror, I can't see the town."
Josiah gripped the com button on the jeep's radio and held the reciever close to his mouth. "Buck, our fearless leader has ordered you to lower the mirror. We now have your location and the glare is blocking his view of the area. Over."
Snickering came over the radio. "This is Buck, tell Chris not to have a cow. Over."
Giving the blonde a glance over, Josiah smiled. "Too late, my friend. We will meet you there in fifteen minutes. Over and Out." He replaced the handset back on the radio.
Chris sighed into his binoculars before lifting them again. The valley below them was one of the strangest things he had ever seen. In a place that should have been barren rocks and the occaisional scrub bush, was one of the greenest landscapes. If that wasn't enough, the sight of free range Buffalo sent him reeling. What they were doing this far South West was beyond him. Fifty miles behind him, the mountains ended and only desert reached up to greet them.
He had to wipe the condensation from his field glasses before he could see through them. Another strange thing was the entire valley and several surrounding mountains were covered in moisture baring clouds. Granted, these were part of the rockies, but this much cloud cover just wasn't normal here. "Josiah, any word on the weather reports for this area yet?"
Josiah shook his head, then noticed Chris wasn't paying attention. "No, Chris. The last they heard this place was supposed to be dry."
"What about magic, could that be the source?" Adjusting the focus, he scanned the small settlements dotting the edges of the valley. They were connected by stone roads, but none of them crossed the valley proper, sticking to the highlands. "Why would they prefer to farm the hillsides when there is perfectly good flat land in the basin?"
"Just a second." Josiah riffled through a brief case he picked up from the jeep's floorboard. Finding the right foulder, he pulled it out and scanned the papers inside. "According to the local registry, the valley is a wild life preserve. Among the animals are Buffalo, deer, wolves, prairrie dogs, bandet ferrits, ducks, eagles, hawks, and..."
"Horses."
"Yes, horses." He looked up at Chris. "How did you know?"
"Down there, a herd of about thirty-five, wild Mustangs if I'm correct." Chris whistled as he watched a large stallion rear up. A thrill went through him at the thought of such a beast roaming free. "Is there any thing in there about magic or possible magics?"
"Nothing." Flipping through the rest of the briefcase, he found a green foulder marked preternatural. "According to the psychics who swept the area, there is a large were population down there. That is the reason our team is here and not the others, we have no vampires on our team."
"I guess that make sense, but I don't trust the council on this one. Something is suspicious about this place, but not the alarming number of weres. If anything, they could be why this valley is green." Putting his field glasses down, he sat back in his seat. Chris started the engine and looked around them. "So the bridge down this side of the mountain is the only clear way across the valley?"
"Yes. Roads are forbidden by law." Josiah grabbed the radio and depressed the call button. "Nathan, this is Josiah, come in, over."
"Nathan. What is it, Josiah?"
"We are moving into the valley, alert the sheriff, our ETA shall be fifteen. Over."
"Will do, bye." The radio cackled.
Chris pushed the engine to the max as they climbed up a steep side of the mountain trail. Gripping the wheel with both hands, he fought to keep it steady. "Why hasn't the county paid to have a proper road put in place? This is just rediculous."
"I believe you are experiencing the reason, Chris. They obviously do not wish to encourage people to come here." Josiah bumped his head against the roll bar and swore silently. He wished they had brought helmets for this trip, but the council decided that minimal gear as a show of good faith was necessary. Didn't want it to look like they were sending an assault team into enemy territory, not when it was purely recon.
"Tell them they were successful, I already wish I hadn't come." The jeep hit a pot hole in the old road and the vehicle bounced. His arms started to cramp and he alternated his grip. Twisting into a turn, Chris leaned into it. "This is rediculous!"
"I agree." Josiah had a sneaking suspicion there was a smoother access road to the valley, but they had been deliberately told only of this old horse trail. He kept this thought to himself. There would be plenty of time to find out later.
After another mile of the bumpy road, they came across the track that lead to the bridge. Chris watched the ground on either side of the road slowly, yet steadily rise until they were deep in a groove. "This road is meant to be hidden from plain sight. Just what the hell is so special about this place? And don't tell me it is a preserve, nothing government sanctioned outside of a military base is this reclusive."
Josiah nodded inbetween bouncing. "Perhaps not the fact it is a preserve, but what they are trying to preserve that is worth the security. There might very well be a military base down there and the preserve is just a smoke screen."
"I was thinking the same thing, but then why would the Council send us to investigate the locals for a purposed alliance. They work hand in hand with the government and them bureaucrats would have had a coniption if we were going to be treading on their secret toes." When he finished speaking, he slowed the jeep to a stop.
Ahead of them lay the bridge. Wide enough for five cars, it was made of steel and stone, then coated in enough wood and dirt to encourage wild life to cross it. If one over looked the superstructure of brown painted steel girders, it looked every bit the part of a natural land bridge.
"Now I am really curious." Putting the jeep in gear, Chris drove across the bridge slowly. He looked out over the support rails and gasped at the sight. As far as the eye could see, the green valley went on. It was the same on the other side as well. White peaks stood on the highest tips, providing a constant source of water in an area that should have been dry. Heavey cloud cover prevented him from seeing their tops. "I wonder if their is a lake at the basin."
"With the ammount of run off from those mountains, more than likely," Josiah whispered in surprise.
Chris shook off his malaise and finished crossing the bridge. The moment they had reached the other side, he looked down at the spedometer. "That bridge is five miles from side to side."
"I can believe it." Josiah shivered in relief from having crossed it. "Take a left at this next trail, the map says it should be almost smooth going the rest of the way."
The stone road of the bridge gave way to a natural dirt track that spread out into the valley walls and further into the mountains. Chris turned at the first dirt track and put the jeep into low gear. "The engine is running a little hot so we are gonna crawl the rest of the way down."
"Twenty miles is a long way, Chris." Folding the map, Josiah stuffed it in his brief case. "This track should take us all the way into town, a little place called Four Corners. It is the only official settlement in the valley of the same name and is the county seat."
"I know that, I read the mission briefing." Chris glanced at the engine temperature gage, tapped it, then looked again. "I'll give it another mile then we can go fourty the rest of the way."
"They will be upset about our being late."
"Tough, Josiah. If they wanted us here, they would have given us the location of the real road instead of that damn goat track." Glancing in his mirrors at movement behind them, he smiled. "In fact, I'm betting they won't be expecting us for another while yet."
"Makes sense." Josiah eyed the mirror, having noticed the horses coming up behind them. "Do you suppose it is some form of welcoming party?"
"Only one way to find out." Pulling off to the side of the road, Chris waited for the riders to come up along side of them. Both he and Josiah pulled their guns. They didn't have to wait long.
The seven riders came up along side the jeep, keeping in the saddle. The apparent leader, a boy with long, stringy black hair flashed a smile and his badge at Chris and Josiah. "Howdy, Mr. Larabee, Mr. Sanchez. Welcome to Four Corners, I'm deputy Dunne."
"Hello." Chris relaxed his grip on the handle of his gun, but kept it within reach. "What brings you out this way? We were just on our way to town."
"Saw you're jeep up on Mountain Goat peak and decided to lead the welcome wagon." Gesturing at his fellow riders, he waved them on ahead. "Those are my brothers."
"Goat peak you say," Chris asked, barely contained rage coursing through him.
"Yeah, you must have really pissed someone off, mister. Ordinairily that path is only reserved for the good ole boys and government officials." Something occured to him and he smack his thigh. "That's right, I forgot you guys were some sorta Marshalls. Sorry, bein the only law in these here parts for the past five years with no one but my Pa and brothers as back up kinda makes me a tad arrogant. Or so my Pa says."
"Is that so." Chris rubbed at his chin, reguarding the young man with a critical eye. Glancing at the disappearing posse, he took in their appearance. "You and they don't look much alike."
"Course not, I don't look like my Pa either. None of us do." Laughing, JD adjusted his broad brimmed hat so that is sat up on the back of his head. "There isn't much goin on in the valley lately, so we're willin to humor you for the time bein."
"Humor us?"
"Well you have no real authority here. Federal Marshalls only have jurisdiction where there is a crime, and the local were population is not a member of your council, so like I said, we will humor you for now." Ignoring Chris' sour expression, JD adjusted his stance in the saddle. His horse started to edge away from the jeep and he did nothing to stop it. "When you get down to Four Corners, meet the sheriff at the station. My Pa will decide what you can and can't do. See ya there." The horse jumped when he put his spurs into its flanks.
Josiah watched the young man fly down the road on his horse. "You can't shoot him, Chris."
"Just why the hell not," Chris asked, but lowered his gun anyways.
"He is the son of the sheriff and a deputy. Just how much you want to bet he has ties with the weres in this valley. A man and his sons don't remain the law for long without the support of the locals behind them." Giving his friend and team leader a caculating gaze, Josiah weighed the possibility that the man would shoot the kid despite his logic. "If we catch him before we reach the town, I'll hold him over my knee for you."
"You gotta deal, Josiah." Putting the jeep into gear, Chris floored the accelerator.
~*~*~*~*~*
Thirty Minutes Later.
The jeep rounded the last curb, pulling up surprisingly in front of a modern sheriff's station on a paved street. Chris took in his surroundings and whistled. The only place that didn't look like it was over a hundred and fifty years old was the sheriff's station and the three service stations along main street. It looked like a turn of the century town with a few modern conveniences. Movement in the back seat made him forget his awe somewhat reluctantly.
JD climbed up over the arm rest and started to jump down from the jeep. As he crashed to the ground, his pants fell about his ankles. "God damn it!"
"JD!" A large man with silver hair stepped off the porch, his pot belly pushing againts his suspenders. "What have I told you about your language?"
Pulling up his pants gingerly over his bared rear, JD growled at the man. "Them morons attacked me!" He tossed a thumb over his shoulder at Chris and Josiah. He tightened his belt another notch. The leather was higher on his waist to avoid the tender area.
"Well, what'd ya do, son?"
JD looked up at his father incredulously. "Nuthin!"
The sheriff didn't believe that for a second. Stepping off the porch, he reached out for his son. "Don't tell me nuthin, I know you, boy."
"I just told them the truth. They aint the law around here, we are!"
Shaking his head, the old man took off his hat and started to swat at his son. "Get out of here!" Giving JD one last swat across the back side for good measure, he shook his head.
"Greetings, sir." Josiah, after watching the spectacle from a distance, decided now would be best to introduce himself. Holding out his hand, he was pleasantly surprised when it was shook. "My name is Josiah Sanchez and this is my team leader Chris Larabee. I assume that JD is your son."
The big man began to pump Josiah's hand. "My name's Arty Dunne, and yeah, JD's mine. The others, wherever them cowards have run off to, their Mother's more than likely, are JD's brothers. You more than likely saw them, JD's wouldn't do something this stupid without them egging him on. Him being the youngest, is always the one doing the stupid shit. Don't pay him any mind. And if he gets too honry, just swat him on the ass again."
"So you're not mad we assaulted your boy?" Chris came up from the other side of the jeep, his black duster hanging pulled back to show his guns.
"Hell no, that boy has been spoiled by the whole town, bout time somebody aside from myself took action against his foolishness." Arty gripped his suspenders. "Now what seems to be the point of your visit, fellas? Your men said something about investigating a possible alliance with the weres, but I know for a fact they told your people no."
"I am sorry, Mr. Dunne, but that is in fact the entire premise of our visit." From his position on the porch of the Sheriff's station, Nathan cleared his throat to get their attention. "Josiah, Chris."
"Nathan," Josiah said as Chris nodded his acknowledgement. "We just got here."
"I see that. The sheriff here won't believe me when I tell him, isn't that right, Arty?"
Arty sucked in a deep breath and blew it out between thinned lips. "I am sorry, fellas, but there just isn't any chance of that happenin. You can stick around for a few days and take a look at the place, but the were elders just aren't interested."
"We'll do that, thanks." Chris shook Arty's hand then watched as the man headed back into the station. "All right, you two finish looking around then meet us at the saloon Buck told us about for a debriefing."
"What are we looking for, Chris?" Nathan stepped in closer to the blonde, his eyes scanning the town about them. There were few people on the town, most of them bustling about the open air market across the street.
"I don't know at the moment. This doesn't sit well with me." Following Nathan's gaze, Chris smiled at the children in the market. "I get the feeling we are here to scout out the locals, gather information on them and then report it to the council so they can decide what we should do. However, until I get sign that these people are anything more than what they seem, I am not going to spy on them. Recent events have proven that we can't trust the council anymore."
"It is not the council we can not trust, brothers, but the members. We must choose are actions here wisely." Fingering his mustache, Josiah nodded at Chris' confused expression. "You are correct, we are here to gain information. I believe that the council is divided into factions. The knowledge we gain here will help us divine who we can trust among their numbers and who must be eliminated permanently."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
One Hour Later.
Chris slammed down the shot glass on the table, wincing from the burn of the drink. "Pure gut rot, Bucklin."
"I told ya, pard, the drinks in this place are locally made, you have to be a shifter to survive a drunken bender." Laughing loud enough to shake the saloon, Buck slapped his friend on the back. "The locals here are mighty friendly to me, if you get my drift."
"Be careful, remember how you got drafted into my service in the first place, Buck." Chris poured himself another shot from the already half empty bottle. The amber liquid sloshed when he set it down. "Just so long as we don't get run out of town because your daliance with the local women, I won't stop you."
"Oh, you don't worry none about that, Chris. Old Buck knows how to treat the ladies, don't I ladies," Buck said with a wink towards the women on either side of his lap. He growled at into the neck of the one on his right as she chuckled and swatted his head. "The only problem we are gonna have is that hot headed runt who seems keen on following us around."
Chris peered blearily over the table at a green clad figure in a black, broad brimmed hat and leather duster. Blinking, he frowned. "I know that person."
"That's the runt of the Dunne Litter. He spends almost all his time with his father pretending to be a deputy." Buck turned his head away from the woman and burped loudly.
"You're disgusting, Buck." The dark skinned were tapped Buck on the back. While running her other hand down between his legs, she leaned foward to Chris, making sure he got a good look at her chest. "Arty's boy is just playing cops and robbers. His momma runs the Refuge, and with sixteen boys and twenty-two girls under her authority, its no wonder ole JD prefers his daddy."
Chris tossed back his shot, then raised an eyebrow. "Oh, just what is this Refuge?"
"An orphanage for were children." Buck's face twisted in disgust. "Which is funny, cause there is no such thing as an orphan were, the child is usually killed along side the parent."
"Weres aren't the only thing up there, Bucky baby, the little deputy in sheep's clothing isn't a were, and none of his brothers are either. But you are right, had we been anyone else, they would be dead. Then again, so would we." Grabbing Buck's hand, she stuck it under her skirt. "Most were clans are so prudish when it comes to carnal pleasures. Thank god Four Corners doesn't give two shakes of a rat's ass about it one way or another."
"Yeah, gals like us fit right in here." The red head propped her heels up on the table, flashing her garters. "So long as we pay our taxes and keep our hunting urges under control, the elders don't care what we do."
"Is that why there are so many weres in this valley?" Chris hid his curiosity behind a loud belch and a large swig from his bottle.
"This valley is a protected zone. No one the elders don't want here can enter. That is why there are so many of us shifters here. A mystical field was cast over the valley about seventeen years ago after a demon attack. The local elders grew tired of the demons interfering with our people so they made a deal with the spooks that give them their power and boom, paradise on Earth." The red head chuckled as she spilled her drink on her chest. "Ooops, Bucky, won't you help clean me up?"
"Sure, darlin, anything for a lady." Buck buried his face in her chest and started growling.
"Oh gross!" JD sat down in the chair next to Chris, reaching out for his bottle. "Don't you have any manners, dog breath?" He frowned when Chris smacked his hand.
Buck froze in his movements, lifted his head and sighed. "Well if it isn't little boy blue."
"I aint a boy, fur balls!" Snatching the bottle from the table, he ignored Chris' dirty look. JD took a big swig of the alcohol and set it down on the table. Grimacing, he swallowed. "Tastes awful. Too cheap to spring for the good stuff, Chris?"
"It gets the job done." Chris took back his bottle from JD. Watching the kid's face, he took a drink from it, licking his lips afterwards. He smirked when he noticed JD's interest.
JD took the bottle back when Chris handed it over. Keeping eye contact, he stuck out his tung and swirled it around the lip of the bottle. "Tastes good."
"I thought it was the cheap stuff."
"I wasn't talking about the whiskey."
"Is that so?" Chris put his hand on JD's knee and watched for his reaction. The next moment his head was twisted to the side and a cold finger was tracing down his neck, finger nail elongated in to a blade.
"Tell me, Mr. Larabee, just why should I not gorge myself upon your vital fluids?"
JD stood up, shoving his chair back. "Let him go, Ezra!"
Vin seized JD about the shoulders and pulled him back against his body. "Calm down, JD, Ezra just wants to question Chris about his intentions towards you."
Buck tried to stand, but the girls on his lap easily shoved him back against his chair. "Ladies, if you don't mind."
"Actually, we do, Bucky. You promised to show us a good time. Old Ezra there don't know how to treat a lady. He won't harm your friend." The red head traced her hand down his chest.
"What do you want, Ezra?" Chris shivered as the knowledgeful fingers traced circles in his hair. "Last time we parted ways we weren't exactly on the best of terms."
"And the time before that, Mr. Larabee, you had threatened to stake me out for the sun when you found out I wasn't exactly human." Ezra shook his head, then slid a hand down the front of Chris' shirt. "I had hoped to embrace you, Mr. Larabee. Dispite your little girlfriend at the time, I was ready to make the commitment of making you my childe."
"I told you then and I still mean it now, I am not giving up my soul for you." Chris tried to get up, but Ezra's hands forced him to remain sitting. "Is this what you want, to force your embrace upon me?"
"Hardly, you know we do not force people to become one of us. It is against our laws to do as such." His eyes flashed silver as he bent over. The hand he had down Chris' shirt slid deeper and into his pants. He felt Chris stiffen in his arms and lean back against him. "Still responcive as ever, I see."
"What is he doing to him?" JD strained against Vin's arms until one hand reached down and cupped him through his pants.
"This." Kissing JD's neck, Vin nipped at his skin. "You smell so sweet, like cherries and soda."
"Vin," Ezra's voice was firm, low toned.
"Can't I have just a taste, Ez?" Vin released a low, deep throated growl, smiling when he felt the kid in his arms shiver. "My kiss will make you feel so good, I promise, JD. What do you say, just one?"
"Do not make me say it again, Mr. Tanner." Ezra nipped Chris' pulse point, then stood up again. "Another time, I will ask you again, and you will say yes."
"Ah, but Ez, I promise to be gentle with'em, honest!" Vin started to growl again. He was silenced when Ezra's hand shot out and gripped him by the throat.
Lifting the other man off the floor, Ezra's eyes shifted from silver to red. "I have told you twice. You are well aware that I do not find it acceptable when I must repeat myself. Return to our place and await me there." He tossed Vin towards the door of the saloon, turning his back before the man even hit the floor. Fixing Chris with his gaze, he reached out and silenced JD with a hand over his mouth. "I suggest you depart this place at once, Mr. Larabee. Take this child with you." He shoved JD in his arms.
"Hey! Don't push me around! I'm the deputy..."
Ezra smiled cruelly in JD's face. "Not anymore." Giving Chris a nod of acknowledgement, Ezra tipped his hat and disappeared.
"What just happened here?" Buck once again tried to shove the girls from his lap. This time they reluctantly stood up.
"Looks like you got what ya came for, sugar." The black woman bent over and ran a hand through JD's disheveled hair. "Hope he is worth it, honey child. Come on, Isabelle. Lets leave these gentlemen to their prize." Grabbing the red head's arm, she linked theirs together.
Chris blocked their path, a hand on his belt ready to draw his gun. "Just what are you talking about?"
"The boy, he's yours. Ezra gave him to you as a gift, baby." Seeing JD's eyes widen, Isabelle grasped his face in a comforting gesture. "Don't fret none, sweet one, you'll get along. You know he'll take good care of you, promise."
"But he..."
"I know, I know, and your momma and daddy are gonna be real sad to see you go, but it's best this way." Letting go of JD's face, Isabelle pierced Chris with her eyes. Their color shifted from dull grey to brilliant yellow. "The boy has belonged to Ezra since the day he was born, promised to him by our elders to seal the pact that protects this place. JD knows this and more, everything your council will need. I suggest you leave before Arty finds out."
"And if I don't want him?" Chris' hand reached for his gun at her expression. "I don't want any trouble, just some answers."
"Simple, if JD is left unclaimed, then he is unprotected. Unprotected means he would be free game for whoever wanted a piece." With that, she blinked and her eyes returned back to their normal grey. "It is best for him if you accept Ezra's gift of him to you and go home. Now, if you will excuse me, I have some customers." She shoved her way past Chris, dragging her friend along with her.
Chris watched her disappear in the large crowd that had sprung up while they were talking. Ignoring the saloon's patrons, he turned back to the stunned JD. "Guess that means you are coming with us."
"Why'd he do that?" JD blinked in confusion, his voice cracking a little. "What did I do?"
"You upset his childe, son." Josiah came up behind them, startling them. "I caught the tail end of it, thought it best if I stayed out of it unless I was needed. You are a distraction to his childe, so he simply got rid of you."
"But it isn't anything I did!"
"You are correct. Young Kindred do not need to be enticed to be fixated on something, you simply happen to provide a stimuli Vin could not resist. In this case, your smell." Holding out a hand, Josiah helped JD stand from his position at Chris' feet. "Come on, son, time for us to go."
"This is my home." JD tried taking his hand back from Josiah. When the older man refused to let go, he glared at him. "I'm not going with you."
"Yes, you are." Coming up behind JD, Chris wrapped his arms around the green clad young man. "Come on, kid, lets get your stuff and get out of town."
"I'm not going anywhere! The people here will protect me."
"No, they won't. Don't you know what just happened? The only reason you have been spared all this time is because you were protected by your status in the were community. You no longer have that position. You're Babe Ruth and they just traded your ass to the Yankees. Now get movin!" When JD still refused to move, Chris bent a little, picked him up, and slung the young man over his shoulder.
"Put me down!" JD tried kicking Chris in the stomach. "I said put me down!"
"I warned you, JD." Smacking JD's rear, Chris adjusted his weight. "You weigh a god damned ton, boy!"
"What is going on here?" Arty stood in the doorway of the now silent saloon. "Larabee, put my son down now and step away from slowly." He moved for his gun, but a hand gripped his shoulder. Looking up, Arty came face to face with Ezra. "No."
Ezra shook his head, silver eyes catching in the waning sun light.
"He's my boy. I raised him from a little pup, he's my son." He wanted to deny the Kindred, wanted to fight him, but eventually even his protests fell out. There was nothing he could do. "He's my boy."
"And you've known the time would come when you had to give him up."
Arty shrugged off Ezra's hand. "Not give him up! He was supposed to be your childe, you promised!"
"It has become more fortuitous that he be a gift." Ezra shifted his gaze from Arty to Chris. He caught the other man's gaze. "Your son will be safe."
Nodding at Josiah and Buck, Chris headed towards the exit. He patted JD on the butt, as they passed Ezra. No words were said between them. Chris stepped out on to the board walk then set JD down. Staring in to the boy's eyes, Chris reached up a hand and stroked his face. "None of us had an easy choice in joining, but we all knew this was the right thing to do. I won't force you to come with us, but I can promise you that you might find something worth it."
Glancing between his father and Chris, JD weighed his choices. Either go with them or possibly lose his life in the next lunar event. Taking a deep breath, he blinked back tears. JD wrapped his arms around Chris' neck. "Promise me," he whispered while leaning close.