Unlikely Allies or Fated Enemies?

A long, long time ago on a cold winter day...

Two brothers train while their Mother watches nearby...

Their Mother is a savage-looking young woman with pale skin that's very visibly marred with signs of battle; she's got several wounds that to a Human look like trophy scars. Her figure is tall, alluring, filled out, athletic, and lethal, unlike the calm-eyed gaze she has watching her sons play. Her silver hair is long and messy, and her face is an anomaly that many don't understand, but still are attracted to. For the scars detracting from her once conventionally beautiful features replace that beauty with a different kind; a warrior kind. She snorts as Cyrus, her oldest son ducks under Aerin, her youngest son when the latter attacks and misses. Horribly.

She was Skadi, the FrostHound...

"Keep your stance strong, Snowflake!" Skadi cheers for Aerin, who is about as old as a Human Teenager in Lycan years. She brushes away a few bangs of hair from her face while watching Aerin shake himself off and huff; Skadi finds it hilarious that her son's so upset. The woman rests her hands on her hips before glancing at, then shaking her head at Cyrus, equivalent to a Young Adult Human; she's ordering him to stop, which the young Lycan promptly obeys. Then, her warm yet experienced eyes meet her son's matching gaze; it's time for a Tutorial.

"You're letting your emotions get the better of you, chasing Cyrus around like a mindless Werewolf instead of as a Lycan. You need to calm down and stop letting him irritate you into making careless lunges and rushes, or you'll wear yourself out," Skadi says as she gestures for Aerin to stand again, which he does. Then, she looks at Cyrus with a brief nod of approval while speaking to Aerin. "Try again! Begin!" she yells, watching a flare of energy surge around Aerin before he attacks with some impressive speed.

Aerin rushes forth as a blur of speed, heading straight toward Cyrus as the latter readies himself with a taunting grin; his brother is fast but is he fast enough!? Cyrus' grey eyes lock onto his approaching brother as time seemingly slows around the two brothers; they're in the zone. Aerin gets a little over halfway toward Cyrus before a flare of energy discharges from his eyes, and then he vanishes like a ghost, drawing a surprised look of shock in Cyrus, and a smile from their Mother. Cyrus keeps his calm...

"You've tried that trick already, little brother!" Cyrus chuckles and relaxes, shaking his gloved hands while calmly waiting for Aerin's attack. "It's a neat ability of yours, I'll admit it. BUT!" the older sibling ducks under a swiping blow from behind without even looking, then quickly snatches Aerin by his arm, finally tossing him several meters across the snow. Cyrus did this with one arm. The young adult Lycan shrugs as Aerin rolls to his feet again and they have another standoff.

"You're not fast enough to try ambushing me," Cyrus muses, giving Skadi a brief look as if asking permission for something. Skadi quietly nods at her son, giving Cyrus the green light upon which he acknowledges with another nod right as Aerin rushes him again. "Oh?" Cyrus quips, assuming a fighting stance when Aerin lunges into a vicious melee with his brother. They engage...

Skadi keeps watching her sons battle in the open clearing of the forest in silence, those eyes glued to the fighting. Aerin's holding his own against Cyrus despite being younger, smaller, and weaker; his martial prowess for his age keeps impressing Skadi. Conversely, Cyrus is easily keeping pace with his brother as they spar; he's smiling through every dodge, block, and counter. It's like watching a tenacious wolf repeatedly attacking a strong and stalwart Bison.

Aerin blocks a heavy open-palmed strike from Cyrus by crossing his arms over his chest before impact; the blow's strong enough that it sends him tumbling backward into the snow blanketing the ground. As he gets to his feet and wipes his face of ice, those eyes stay locked onto Cyrus. But this time, something's different; Cyrus and Skadi notice it well before Aerin does.

It's what they want...

"You've got decent speed and attack power for your age, little brother," Cyrus commends as he paces in the snow, his boots crunching the ice beneath them. "But, if you want to be in the Inner Circle like the rest of the family, you've gotta have more than talent to get where you need to be," he calmly lectures Aerin, who's dusting himself off in quiet agitation as he listens. The younger Lycan's silver hair wafts in a chilling breeze while those enchanted eyes glance at Skadi before they look at Cyrus again, and Aerin huffs.

"I don't need pointers from you, Cyrus!" Aerin growls, shaking off the lingering impact of his brother's attack and readying himself again for another go. His eyes glow a little brighter, and the energy swirling around him grows denser by the second until it becomes visible around him as a vague rush of power. The young Lycan pops his neck and walks toward Cyrus again with a more intense look in his eyes as he says...

"I can handle myself!" Aerin tells him, and Cyrus beams in delight.

"Let's see if Fenrir's Chosen is all bark or bite then," Cyrus snickers while walking toward Aerin, too; then they rush each other and engage! Aerin attacks first, pushing off the ground with momentum into a swift jumping lunge into the air down toward Cyrus, who blocks with both arms. A blast of Bestial Energy rupturing from Aerin's fist catches Cyrus off guard and overtakes his form in a flash while also surprising Skadi. The energy is so hot and potent that the air sizzles for a few seconds afterward as Cyrus emerges in a backward slide from the concussive energy; surprised, but largely unhurt. He smiles again, those grey eyes filled with anticipation when his brother presses their advantage.

Aerin keeps attacking, his fighting style is a flashy display of punches and kicks weaved into a sequence of acrobatics that takes complete use of his body. He's jumping into the air and twisting himself into savage kicks capable of shattering tree stumps, throwing punches capable of smashing bones, and protecting against attacks even stronger than his as Cyrus defends accordingly. The young teenager aims a swift punch at his older brother's jaw, the wind whipping by Cyrus' ear as he pulls his head away then grabs Aerin's collar with both hands. Cyrus tries turning and slamming Aerin into the ground, but his brother suddenly snatches Cyrus' curly black hair in exchange, immediately stopping Cyrus from doing that without ripping out a chunk of his scalp. The two remain fastened to one another for a few seconds, an awkward stalemate that forces Cyrus into laughing.

"That was smart, grabbing my hair before getting slammed! Haha!" Cyrus can't fight his grin while looking at Aerin still clinging to his upper body; it's a rather amusing sight to Skadi. Cyrus and Aerin's exchange isn't a passive one, though. They're both tenaciously looking for a way out of their deadlock without losing whatever ground they have. Aerin keeps his grip tight on Cyrus' hair while Cyrus keeps Aerin effortlessly suspended in the air by the collar of his black-fur cloak. Then, Aerin flashes a grin.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Who said I grabbed your hair to stop you from slamming me?" Aerin asks with a knowing grin. "I grabbed it because I know how vain you can be when it comes to your appearance," he sneers, then swiftly smashes his knee into Cyrus' face before his brother registers his words. The blow stuns Cyrus enough that he drops Aerin and staggers backward, holding his face in pain. Aerin doesn't relent and presses his advantage with an open-palm blow aimed at his brother's solar plexus in hopes of knocking the wind from his chest. Cyrus wound up recovering quicker than his brother anticipates, though, and snatches Aerin by his wrist before getting hit. He pulls Aerin closer, their gazes locked on one another when Cyrus speaks.

"You're getting craftier; I'll give you that," Cyrus muses with a bloody nose, then hits Aerin right in his chest while simultaneously releasing his grip on his brother's wrist. Though his blow looks weak and almost like a love tap, it sends Aerin tumbling again through the snow. Cyrus presses his thumb to one nostril seconds before blowing bloody snot out of the other one, then wincing in discomfort. That knee to his nose hurts a lot more than Cyrus will ever admit. Still, he shakes it off and rolls his shoulders, watching Aerin stand to his feet as well. They're about to go at it again until their Mother calls it off.

"Alright, alright, that's enough!" Skadi says with a light tone as she gestures they stop. As she's walking toward them, she's fixing her long, silver hair like it's a bother to her. "Cyrus, you need to pull your punches more; Aerin is your little brother," she gives her oldest son a side eye before she looks at her youngest and speaks. "Aerin, you need to stop trying to fight like your brother and come up with your own style of combat. What works for Cyrus does not work for you," she lectures. Cyrus stays quiet and watches Aerin dust himself, the latter looking a little defeated in the face.

"Why do I even need to learn how to fight?" Aerin asks and surprises his family while keeping his gaze away from his mother; he's staring at the disturbed snow at his feet. "The Inner Circle doesn't need me when it has you, Cyrus, and Father in it?" he trails off as the forest grows quiet between the three; all eyes are on Aerin, especially Skadi's. The sun's shining rays dance with the thick foliage of the forest canopy, painting both the ground and all the Lycans in mixes of shadows and light. Aerin's upset.

"I don't like fighting because it's too stressful. I also don't want to be in the Inner Circle..." Aerin dejectedly admits, drawing Cyrus' confusion. Cyrus walks over to Aerin's side with a concerned look in his eyes; he doesn't even care about his still bloody nose.

"So, why'd you tell me that you wanted to train and get strong enough to be in it?" Cyrus inquires once he's a couple of feet from Aerin. "You sounded motivated when you asked me out of nowhere to start helping you get strong--" he never finishes his words as Aerin cuts him off in an even more upset voice.

"That's because if I thought if I tried acting like this was something I wanted I'd start believing it. I was wrong," Aerin huffs, holding his chest in discomfort for a few seconds; Cyrus' blows hurt. Aerin turns to his mom again with a tired and nearly pleading look in those eyes. The next words out of his mouth would've stunned anybody who heard it.

"I don't want to be Fenrir's Chosen; I want to be Aerin..."

Skadi quietly approaches her youngest son and kneels till she's at eye level with him. Then, she raises a pale-colored hand and gently caresses the young Lycan's cheek with a warm and comforting smile. Cyrus hangs back in silence with crossed arms; he's keeping watch as his mother quells Aerin's emotions with soft-spoken words of assurance.

"You will always be you, Aerin," Skadi smiles and gently pinches Aerin's cheek like he's a cute little puppy; Aerin surprisingly leans into his mother's touch with a begrudging smile. Skadi looks her youngest over from head to toe, now cradling Aerin's face in both hands as she speaks with a big, cheesy grin. "My little puppy is so handsome! Your hair looks better than mine, and your eyes are prettier than mine, too. My baby boy's gonna be so handsome when he grows up! Maybe that's why Fenrir chose you? He needs a beautiful-looking vessel to match his majestic power!" she chuckles and pulls away her hands when Aerin blushes. Cyrus can't help but chime in now.

"Nah, if Fenrir needed a devilishly handsome vessel, then he'd have picked me, yours truly!" Cyrus says as he shakes snow out of his curly black hair like a dog. Skadi and Aerin turn their matching gazes toward Cyrus. Aerin eye rolls and shakes his head; Cyrus is always like this. Meanwhile, Skadi laughs again, nodding when she stands up and dusts her backside off.

"You're both the most handsome men in the village..." Skadi suddenly pauses and looks off to her side to mutter. "... after your Father, of course!" she teases, and Cyrus grimaces in disgust; he didn't want to hear about that! Skadi breaks out in laughter while raising her hands in the air. Another cold daytime breeze blows falling snow across them and the landscape as she speaks.

"That aside, don't take Aerin being Fenrir's Chosen as a slight on your strength and skill, Cyrus," Skadi reassures her oldest son and walks over to rest her hands on his broad shoulders. Their Mother is tall for a female; she's got a few inches on Cyrus in height when they lock eyes. "You are still my firstborn, and you know what they say about the first child if they're a boy?" she asks, awaiting a response that Cyrus confidently gives.

"That I'm the strongest and it's so I can protect the siblings coming after me? Yeah, I'm aware!" Cyrus beams with a cocky grin as he glances Aerin's way before looking at their mother again. Cyrus rests his fist over his heart, assuring his mother with every word out of his mouth. "I'm fine with my little brother being Fenrir's Chosen because it's a much more badass title being Fenrir's Guardian, don't you think?" he says with a laugh and a wink that Skadi readily shares with him; she loves Cyrus' confidence and outlook on the situation.

"Aha!" Skadi responds with elation and pulls Cyrus into a long and thorough hug. She holds her oldest son in her embrace and rocks side to side with him as her chin rests on his head of soft and curly black hair. "I'm so glad to have you both as my sons. Oh, Aerin!" she pulls away and looks over her shoulder at her youngest son watching them from a few meters away. Skadi notes the jealousy in Aerin's eyes and fights laughing out of amusement at how cute he looks. Their Mother gestures for Aerin to come join the embrace, which Aerin quickly does. Once she's got both of them in her embrace, Skadi indulges in the few seconds of silence amidst the three, her eyes closed and her heart at ease in this moment.

"No matter what happens to me or in life, I want you two to promise that you'll always support each other and stick together..." Skadi suddenly says in a lower, more solemn voice as she clutches her children a little tighter. She's slightly killed the mood with her words, Aerin and Cyrus keep that to themselves, though. Cyrus is the first to speak, but he asks something neither Skadi or Aerin expected him to...

"Even if it turns us against one another?" Cyrus asks...

Skadi stays quiet for a long time...

Something is on her mind; she thinks of it whenever Cyrus speaks...

It's something she can't ever share with him, either...

Fenrir's Brother...

"... Yes," Skadi finally answers as she looks Cyrus in his eyes with an expression he'd never forget. Skadi never says this next part out loud...

"Even if it makes you eternal enemies and even if Aerin never understands why..."

Please, Cyrus...

Protect Aerin from Garmr...

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Somewhere in the snow-covered village...

"Mona!" Aerin calls for the sleeping beauty while strumming his fingerless-gloved hands against the cold bars of the cell. His eyes peer past silver-colored bangs of hair brushing over his brow with every movement, focusing on the young woman rising out of bed. Her cell looks much homier than when she first arrived: she's got a much comfier bed with the warmest fur sheets, a nearby table with a cleaned plate of food, and even an extra room with a private bathroom and mirror, and more! Calling it a cell was an insult at this point; Mona's basically in a hotel. All at the courtesy of the King.

"Aerin!" Mona mimics back as she fixes her hair and hops out of bed; she's wearing bedroom clothes, again courtesy of the man watching her. The blue-eyed woman meets Aerin's gaze with a slight hum as if she's already aware of what's going on. "Is it already time? I thought I'd be able to sleep longer..." she trails, grabbing her cleaned original outfit and slipping into the bathroom to wash up and change. She keeps talking with the door halfway closed for privacy. "Especially since it might be the last time I get to wake up if you catch my drift?" she jokes, earning a curious look from the Lycan.

"You seem cheery for someone potentially facing public execution if she doesn't make a convincing case..." Aerin reminds and crosses his arms. His tone is calm and indifferent to the situation, but it betrays the anxiety filling him; he's nervous too, but for different reasons. Still, he can't allow it to show. Mona curses under her breath as she stumbles in the bathroom, and Aerin squints; what's she doing? Mona's next words catch Aerin off guard...

"That's because I had a vision..." Mona chimes and Aerin's eyes widen. A vision? "I'm confident I'll be able to plead my case!" the woman adds with a confident tone that shifts into something more excited. "A friend once asked what I'd do if I found out that you guys were still alive and kicking. Back then, I said that I didn't know..." Mona soon emerges from the bathroom fully dressed and ready to go, and Aerin casually opens the cell doors and gestures for her to come with him. As she approaches, the Lycan can't help but inquire about her statement.

"I'm going to guess that your answer has changed?" Aerin idly deduces when the slightly shorter woman passes him, and they head out into the streets. Mona nods and says with the most confidence she's ever had in her life till now...

"Yeah. First, I'm going to save the Lycans from extinction."

Aerin never thought he'd hear a Human say those words...

What was this Descendant up to?

Next Chapter: Mona's Promise & A Commander's Oath...