Was the coils of a large snake wrapped around her. She gasps as they tighten, cutting off her ability to take in a deep breath. She can't even squirm, feeling the scales slide along her body as the serpent's grip restricts her. Its forked tongue flickers by her face as she looks up into its eyes, its mouth opens, revealing the long fangs, a single droplet emerging on one, oozing slowly down to drop with a sizzle onto the floor. She wanted to scream, but couldn’t find the oxygen supply, her mouth opening wide in horror as it rears back. A voice teases along the air, the voice of... Thad? The words he had whispered to her, but there is no smile on her face now. The snake's eyes glow an eerie blue before it strikes.

Just as the blow is landed, she awakes, being lifted onto Marf’s lap and crushed to his chest as she grips onto his shirt for dear life. The steady thump of his heartbeat under her ear works its magic, and her shaking eases. Slowly, she becomes aware that they are still on the plane, and her face burns a furious shade of red. Thank goodness it was nearly empty this time of night, or... morning? She had no idea. The only one close by was an elderly woman who, by the sounds of the snores, was sleeping deeply. Embarrassed, she starts to slide her way back to her own seat, and he lets her go, but tucks her underneath his arm and holds her close once she gets there.

“Another nightmare?” his voice is soft. She nods, unable to answer, mortified. “You are getting them more and more often now. What was this one?” he asks, concerned. “I have no idea, it was like déjà vu, but nothing I’ve ever done. A bunch of faceless people, their faces were all just blurs yet I felt like I knew them somehow. Being trapped. The snake...” she slows down. “The snake was back?” he tilts his head to try and look at her face. “Yes, with glowing blue eyes again.” she shivers. “Blue glow...” Marf mutters more to himself, than Lycana. For long moments they remain in silence, as he idly plays with a lock of her hair.

“Are you okay now?” comes his quietly posed query. “Yes.” she sighs, not really telling the truth. She couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing away at her insides, like a wild animal with a tasty bone. “What’s wrong? What do you think it means?” he gives her hair a light tug. “I wish I knew Marf. I had thought after what happened with Wylde and Arcana...” Marf gives a low growl as she continues on. “That the snake represented them, but I guess not. Maybe it had something to do with whatever the first part was. Maybe nothing has anything to do with anything and I’m just going crazy.” she grumbles. “I don’t think you're crazy.” he tells her.

“That makes one of us.” she rubs her eyes. “The glowing blue eyes, I mean it can only be memories of the Harbinger right? I saw them often enough before he came and tried to kill me.” Marf remains silent, a speculative look in his eyes. “I don’t know, everything just seems like it's one giant mess after another. Doesn’t it?” she looks up at him. “We will figure it out, we’ll get through it all, like we always do.” he summons a small smile for her. “I hope you're right.” she settles her head back down, rubbing her arms as goosebumps rise on her flesh as she remembers her nightmare once more. “I hope you feel the same way after we get back and you meet the pack too.”

LATER

‘Fuck my life.’ It had been a mantra running through her head ever since she had gotten back to the states from Spain. After that world shaking text she had gotten from Rolfe, she had been eager to hop a plane and see what had been going on in her absence, Problem was... there had been radio silence since the damn text message. She had responded. Nothing. Calls, messages, even a damnable email. Nothing. So, after her Hart title match where Thaddeus Duke had scooped her up afterwards and carried her into the back and... well anyway, she had been aboard a plane red eyeing it back to North Carolina in a blink. She cringes, remembering that little episode, then shakes it off. And what is it that she gets back to find?

Now nobody knows where Rolfe is. She stands in the middle of the small pack village, running a hand through her hair over and over again, struggling to come up with something she could go on. Why would he text her then just disappear? Because he was off trying to save her himself. There was no question about that. She was his significant other and love did crazy things to people. Or so she had heard. There was a chance that now one, or both were dead. Or he was locked up in the same place Lycana had seen Reika in, in her vision. The rest of the pack had gathered around, lobbing questions at her right and left. Most not about Rolfe... but about her transformation, her ‘scent’ being different to them they had instantly known.

It had started the moment they had walked in her door. A sharp snarl from Fenrir greeting her. The hair along the ridge of his back raised, head lowered, as he regarded his mistress with his teeth well in attendance. She had been baffled, not understanding what was happening until it dawned on her. She had dropped to her knees, her voice pleading with him to recognize her. He had wavered, her dulcet tones familiar, even while the scent was not. She had held still while he came and pressed his nose to her flesh, inhaling while growling all the while. It had been a long, tense, moment, but something had triggered him to understand, and with a wag of his tail in apology, all was well once more.

Had she thought this was going to be easy? She almost giggles insanely, as his hands drop down gently onto her shoulders, giving a soft squeeze before his thumbs idly rub her flesh. How did he always seem to know? It was uncanny, mind bond or not. She glances up at Marf before sweeping her gaze around at all the pack members, huddled about but maintaining a respectful distance thanks to the hulking form of Lycana’s friend. She didn’t understand it herself, how was she supposed to explain it to them? No, she had not done anything for Cate to randomly bestow it upon her, but instead, somehow Marf’s overwhelming rage had brought it up and out?

She still had not tried to transform again, she would rather be alone or just with Marf to do that. But right now, she had some leadership duties to attend to. She raises her hands pleadingly and the questions all die down. “I know this all seems crazy. It does to me as well, but right now, we need to focus on where Rolfe is, and why he isn't answering.” she starts, but gets no further as voices ring out, offering suggestions and comments. Some blaming the Harbinger, others figuring he was away on business without telling anybody, and still more who just stood and glared, mistrust in Lycana heavy around them. Dissension was in the air. The threat of civil war was alive and well.

“QUIET!” his voice wasn’t a yell, but the sheer power behind it came through, shutting every one of the wolves up. Heads turned in his direction, eyes baleful and mistrusting of this outsider who was by Lycana’s side. “Look, did anybody see Rolfe beyond Tuesday? He couldn’t have just vanished without a trace.” she sighs. Could he? It certainly seemed like he had! “He didn’t talk to anybody about where he was going or what he was doing? None of you?” she inquires. “You said he sent a text, what was it about?” a voice pipes up from the back of the group. Lycana hesitates. How much should she say? It would cause even more chaos if she said he had mentioned finding....

“REIKAAAA!” the voice wailed out through the woods, causing Lycana and a large number of the wolves to jump, startled. They can hear the leaves crunching, a body crashing through the underbrush. A moment passes before Rolfe bursts through the treeline, sobbing wildly with Reika’s motionless body in his arms. He stumbles, landing on his knees, never releasing his hold on her. He throws his head back and howls. Lycana, who had been frozen in shock, breaks free of her trance and barrels towards him, the rest hot on her heels. She skids in, also dropping to her knees as her fingers rush to find a pulse on Reika’s neck. Nothing, not even the faintest flutter.

Rolfe lowers her to the ground, still blubbering, leaning over her body as he presses his hands to his face, rocking back and forth in his grief. Lycana stares in disbelief and horror. She had seen the girl alive, what had happened? She reaches out, to move a heavy strand of blond hair from her face, and what she sees makes her recoil. Deep lacerating grooves like claw marks decorate Reika’s left cheek. Lycana blinks, slowly noticing the shredded state of her clothing, the long parallel marks running all over her body, not just her cheek. Drying blood everywhere. “Who... what...?” she stammers. A sniffling Rolfe looks up, his eyes haunted. “Cate.” he whispers.

Lycana feels dizzy. No, he couldn’t mean what she thinks he did. “Cate?” Cate what?” she tries. “Cate did this...” his voice is quiet, breaking on a soft sob once more. “CATE DID THIS! CATE KILLED REIKA!” he screams the words, a feral sound coming in at the end as he vents his grief over her body. A low buzz starts among the pack, as they all exchange wide eyed glances, the whispers starting. Shit. This was not good at all. “There has to be some mistake. Cate wouldn’t do this.” Lycana starts. “I saw it with my own eyes Lycana! And that creature of yours! That Harbinger! Look what he did to her!” he hisses. “No... but... She...” her voice trails off.

The whispering grows louder. Lycana rises to her feet, turning to face the crowd. “Everybody go.” she says. They stare. “GO! I will handle this, and then come and address you all. I think we all know Cate wouldn’t do something like this to one of her own.” she tries to reason. For one long minute, she thought she would have a battle on her hands, then one by one they slowly back away and disperse, whispering in pairs or groups, looking over their shoulders but leaving all the same. She closes her eyes as her head spins. Just another layer of icing on the shit cake her life was becoming. It was fine. “It was Cate Lycana! I am telling you...” Rolfe starts again from his position on the ground.

“Where did she get all clawed up like this Rolfe? You and I both know Cate doesn’t have to, and never would get her hands bloody like that.” Lycana carefully starts. “The Harbinger! He... he did it!” he starts crying once more. Lycana stands, conflicted. He didn’t have to use brutal force either. Just the touch of his hands, the way he sucked the life force from a body. But how could she argue with him? She had not been there. Still, she could not wrap her head around all the accusations he was hurling. There was zero chance. Right? “Why do you smell like that?” the words break her from her thoughts. “You’ve changed.” it was a statement. “You’re a lycan now. How?” he stares at her.

Lycana gets the feeling that was a much more loaded question that it appeared to be on the surface. “What are you implying?” she keeps her tone neutral. “You take Reika, she disappears but you manage to escape this Harbinger. You say you saw her imprisoned, but still go off to your wrestling instead of sticking around. And after all this time, you suddenly have powers? What did you DO to earn those Lycana?” Rolfe slowly rises to his feet as well, his tone wavering. Lycana slams the lid on her temper, not allowing it to rise, but she feels the beast stir. And so did he, from the narrowing of his eyes. He HAD just lost his girlfriend, she had to have some sort of grace for him.

“I was nowhere around here when it happened. That is a story for another time, as is you telling me everything that you saw. I think you should take some time, to calm down and we can discuss this rationally, like we are supposed to.” she prompts. “RATIONALLY?! There is nothing else to say! You don’t believe me, do you?!” his voice rises. Her hesitations speaks louder than words. He curls his upper lip, nodding at her. “I get it. Loyal to the core, aren't you? When it suits you. Loyal to Cate now that you have powers and fuck the pack? Is that it?” he snarls. “I have no proof right now...” she is cut off. “I SAW IT WITH MY OWN FUCKING EYES LYCANA! HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU NEED?!” he is screaming now.

“This is a GODDESS you are accusing! You need to let me into your mind!” exasperation colors her words, as much as she tries to stay calm. He shakes his head, and keeps shaking it as he crouches down by Reika’s body once more. “NO! I won't let you play your mind games with me, like you did with this one!” Rolfe jerks his thumb in Marf’s direction, who had been standing there frowning during the whole exchange. “Why? I will be able to see everything...” Lycana tries. “NO! I said NO!” he goes to scoop Reika’s body up, but Lycana steps closer. “Leave her with me.” she orders. “What? Why? You know she needs to be burned.” he looks confused.

“I have... something I need to do before we take care of that.” she quietly responds. “Hasn't she been through enough? We need to lay her to rest Lycana! She deserves it!” he is getting heated now. “You need to trust me.” Lycana has said the wrong thing. “TRUST? Like you trust me? Oh, this is good...” Rolfe is about to start on a rampage when Marf steps in between the two of them. “She said to leave her here.” he says quietly. Rolfe glares at him, looking the much larger, muscular man up and down, a sneer on his face. “And who do you think you are? You have no business with pack dealings.” he growls. “If it has to do with her, it has to do with me, Rolfie.” Marf states.

“Rolfe.” he corrects. “Yeah, that’s what I said. Rolfie.” Marf smirks. “If Lycana wants you to leave her here, I think that’s what you should do. Highly recommend it even.” The subtle threat was obvious, even as he leans casually on one leg, looking for all the world to be relaxed and negligent. Rolfe eyes him, knowing unless he uses lycan powers, he has no chance whatsoever. The thought was clearly tempting, his expression mirroring his innermost thoughts. His gaze shifts over to Lycana and he seems to relent a little, grudgingly. She would kill him, and he knew it. He schools his expression into an uncaring mask. He looks down at Reika for long moments.

“Fine. If you can get something out of her body, great, more power to you. But you aren't going into my mind. It's over. I told you everything. Believe me or not.” with a last withering look at Marf he spins on his heel and starts to walk away. “Bye Rolfiiiiiiiieee!” Marf calls out, waving. Rolfe’s shoulders visibly tighten as his steps start to resemble someone with a stick shoved up his rear end. He slips among the houses and vanishes from sight. Lycana sighs, waiting long beats to be sure he isn't coming back before turning to face Marf. Without her even asking, he picks up the little dead blond. “Where to?” he asks. She tells him a spot they were both familiar with and they set off walking through the woods.

“Do you have an idea what happened to her?” he breaks the silence that stretched between them. “Not a clue.” she sighs. “It doesn’t make sense. Cate would do something far cleaner, it's rare that she even handles things of this nature. There was this one time, she branded....” Lycana’s voice trails off for a second. “But that was very different. Anyway, I can't see her doing something like this, even if Reika was stirring up trouble. She would have at least given her a chance.” She goes quiet once more. “How do you know that she didn’t and found her guilty?” he asks. “Because I am involved with everything that has to do with the wolves. She wouldn’t....” Lycana broods.

“You don’t sound too sure about that. As much as I hate to admit it, maybe Rolfie was telling the truth. What the hell is up his ass all the time anyway?” Marf wonders. “I don’t know, about any of it.” Lycana answers on a sigh. “I just don’t think this is her doing. And the Harbinger, he just used his hands to pull the life force from her, and me. I could feel it draining. Why in the world would he cut her up?” Marf looks down at the body in his arms. “They don’t just look like cuts; they look like they were made by claws.” And there it was. What she had been thinking out in the open. The words she didn’t want to say out loud herself.

“Yeah.” she acknowledges Marf’s comment but doesn’t elaborate on it. He looks at her, and knowingly drops anything else he might have wanted to say on it. She was thinking something, he could tell, but she wasn’t ready to bring it out into the open yet. Lycana didn’t like where her mind was going. It would mean her whole world would go from already tilting on its axis, to being flipped upside down and shaken up like some kind of magic 8 ball. ‘Will everything be okay?’ Don’t count on it! It would mean that her trust had been misplaced, and that not everything was as it seemed. She was starting to question everything, and she did not like it.

They enter a small clearing, and Marf moves to place Reika’s body on a large rock. Lycana walks around, checking to be sure everything was as it should be. She would come back later with everything she needed for what she was about to do. Unease creeps in, as she contemplates the risks associated with her decision. It wasn’t allowed, but the rewards could be quite high. She would be able to figure out exactly what she needed to know, and if that happened, just maybe she would be able to get more ahead of it before things got beyond out of hand, if they weren't already. Marf moves up next to her, to stare down at poor dead Reika. “What are you going to do with her?” he questions.

“I’m going to bring her back.”

To Be Continued.....

“I find myself here again, contemplating yet another match looming on the horizon. I suppose I should jump right into my opponents and what I think about each of them. What is going to happen when we all step into the ring together. To sketch out just what I expect they are all going to be saying about myself and my partners. To pretend I actually give a shit about the words spewing from everyone's mouth. The reality is... I don’t. At all. It's all the same old song and dance, the same words, the same meanings, all thrown at different people. Maybe a touch of personalization thrown in for good measure, like sprinkles on top of ice cream. But all the same crap.

But why? Why do we do this? Is it intimidation? Is it a certain mind game to play with those who would allow such menial drivel to weasel its way in so thoroughly that they are shook by all the threats of bodily harm? Truth be told, if you let someone else’s trash talk get to you that badly, you probably shouldn’t be stepping into the ring where actual physical brutality awaits. Where the words and threats are either put to truth, or shown to be an absolute lie. I adore a good mind fucking, but promos? They are not the one and the same. I guess I will never understand why we are here in front of the camera, week in and week out, having chats with our opponents. Actions speak louder than words.

Does one sit and listen to Ned Kaye and piss themself in fear? It's doubtful. Ned Kaye puts me in mind of a bear, but one who has been both defanged and declawed. Subtly dangerous, but not quite as scary as he should be. I don’t know too much about you darling Ned, and I can't say I haven't tried. Ive watched your promos, Ive observed your matches, Ive dug a little bit into your past. I know all about your records, you past title runs. All the kinds of things I'm supposed to be impressed with, but am not. You are anomaly to me Ned. I know all the facts but you... nothing about you stands out. Neither heavy hitter nor lurking in the shadows.

You are just... there.

What makes you so Notorious? Your inconsistency? I’m not sure how you got pulled into this little match when it seems you don’t have a dog in the fight. Your partners have drawn their lines in the sand, and here you are, not a peep out of you before. That makes me curious as to why you? What this has done is bring you into my focus, and your little friend over there will tell you, it's not a place you would want to be. When you get into my sights Ned, I do my best to take you apart. Perhaps you should watch how you step with your own promo, it will color the tone of your future at my hands. This will be your one and only chance from me, be careful not to waste it.

Does one even try to understand what the everlasting fuck Charlemos is anymore? Its Charlie Nickles with a two pack a day voice, a mask, and even less of a brain. Sounds smarter, makes decisions like an absolute dumbass. Coming after the Left Hand. Cutting their hair. Getting involved in their matches. Oh, what a mistake you made! You are going to pay for stepping into Marf’s match. It’s a shame you shed Jim for this one though, guess you realized he wouldn’t be able to cover your ass with the Dissentients breathing down your neck. Sorry to tell you, but the two guys you got with you won't be able to stop us from tearing you limb from fucking limb.

You have some balls for a guy who tried to call us out and then I had to chase your wide load down while you tried to weasel your way out of facing me at Warfare. You finally agreed to a tables match with me and now comes the day and what do I find? You not only ran like a scalded dog from the idea of giving me some extra weapons to toss at you, but you had to bring backup. Not one, but TWO! Way to show your true cowardice. I will have my moment in the ring with you, you will get a taste of what you were running from Demos... but that’s what it is, a fucking sip. An appetizer. Because I won't be done with you after that. Run all you want, but I’m making you a promise. You and me, in the fucking ring one on one. Tables, ladders, AND chairs.

I’m fucking coming for you and there's nothing you can do about it.

Does one even bother to try and explain shit to R.L. Edgar? It seems like just a waste of time. You can explain things until you are as blue in the face as my damn hair he’s so fond of, and he still won't get it. For someone who likes to point out how filled with hot air I am, he certainly likes to hear himself talk. So much so, he’s under some weird impression that promos are what makes a match. Shit Reg, I don’t care how many times you chatter at the camera. What matters is what you bring to the damn ring, and that certainly isn't your mouth. Last Warfare Reggie, you almost tasted defeat at my hands. I could see it in your eyes, the fear, the realization that you took me far too lightly.

You almost tripped up.

You won’t make the same mistake this go round will you? You have to be smarter than that at least. You might be breathing a bit of a sigh of relief not having to face me one on one again this time... Will you still be eager to take that step through the ropes to face me? I certainly hope so, because I am not done with you yet. I want to sink my teeth into you and make you bleed again... perhaps not literally this time, but I make no promises. Almosts are not enough for me anymore. We tested each other, pushed each other to the limits and beyond, put our hearts to the test. This time, you got the upper hand over me. But I gained something in that match.

Free tickets into your head.

Next time, will you be so lucky? Next time, will you be able to fend me off? Next time, will it be you whose shoulders stay on the mat for all three? I know you even better now Reggie. This loss has only pushed me to come at you even harder. You are firmly within my crosshairs... so you should be thanking all the powers that be that gave you two living, breathing shields this week. I’ll never stop trying, I’m either fighting or I’m dying. Nobody here is ever going to break me; nobody will ever shake me down. I will just keep getting back up and coming back for more. Each who steps in the ring with me will learn, and all three of you will be hurting once this match is over.

One will sip from my violence once more... the other two, new to this. What a nice surprise for sweet Ned and Demos! I guess, you should probably warn them Reg, what they are in for. What stepping in the ring with me is like. Add in my partners and well... bodies will be bruised, and hopefully blood spilled. So come on boys, throw your words at me. Tell me what you think. Tell me what you are going to do to me. Make me promises of bodily harm and pain.

Come Warfare, you had all better fucking deliver.”