Chapter 95: Sunundra
Leader was right; the waiting area was comfortable, but it was also boring as hell. Luckily, Tel occupied herself by bothering him with her tail, lounging on a couch layered with pelts as he sat in a chair next to her. He batted the appendage away absently every so often, thankful for something to do. If their two escorts found the behaviour questionable, they didn’t say anything.
It had been a few hours by this point, Joseph having counted the planks a couple times over in an effort not to bite a hole in his cheek from the bubbling stress building under the surface. His grey-furred fiancee helped him with her suggestive actions on occasion, but he was still very much somewhere he would rather not be, surrounded by unfamiliar people and structures.
Regardless, he was here for the Atmo. He wasn’t sure what he would do if they were being treated poorly, but going in guns blazing simply wasn’t an option. Like it or not, a part of him knew that he would need to walk away from this—no matter what he discovered. He had his new family who needed him, and they expected him back.
He just hoped his return would be carrying good news with it.
A polite knock on the door stirred Leader, the dark green-furred male having dozed off with his paws on his rifle. Tech snorted as he came to his senses, calling out to whoever was announcing their presence. Tel tipped an ear in the door’s direction, her bored expression hiding the subtle tensing of her muscles in preparation to deal with a possible threat. Joseph, however, just started counting the planks constituting the ceiling again, years of waiting at offices and hospitals conditioning him to expect a notice of a further wait until proven otherwise.
A pat on his shoulder made him lose count after thirty. Tel stood in front of him, her eyes rolling at his lackadaisical demeanour.
“Our host is ready for us,” she informed him as he mused about the relatively short waiting time. Trill’s had been pretty quick, but the guy also had a vested interest in the fact that his daughter was there, so Joseph found himself with a bit of a lopsided expectation for how Lilhuns did things like this. Still, it beat sitting in a stuffy clinic waiting room while listening to monotonous beeps and at least one person playing crappy music aloud on personal devices, so he simply accepted the extended paw and got to his feet.
He checked that he had everything before nodding his readiness, letting the two UM members lead the way with Tel taking the rear. Contrary to his expectations, she didn’t try anything as they left the building, her paw fixed on her daggers as her ears pivoted. It was both comforting and worrying that she seemed to be taking it so seriously. Comforting because it meant that he had someone invested in watching his back, worrying because the glint in her eye promised bloodshed.
It concerned him that he gained reassurance from that too.
It was only when they got outside did he lay eyes on the servant tasked with escorting them, her gaunt figure bleeding sunlight through skin, sinew, and fur. She didn’t have any obvious signs of injury or abuse, but food was definitely a scarcity here. He flicked his hood up and adjusted the moss-wolf skull to hide his glower. He couldn’t do anything to help these people. Not yet, and maybe never. He needed to accept that and bring his focus forward.
Again they passed the bridge, though much closer this time. He could make out identical warehouses, only the odd guard patrolling the entire space. Their weapons and armour looked closer to what Tech and Leader were using, but some were equipped with more common swords and leathers. Not a single normal pack member was moving through the area—in fact, they gave the bridge a wide berth. Curious as he was, it ultimately didn’t matter too much.
Their liaison led them into a denser district, more dens made of crude methods mixing with ones of Atmo precision, though there seemed to be something of a transition underway. His idle gaze noticed that no one was sporting any bows, likely due to Hasen effectively locking the trade routes down by eliminating every settlement that would have sent a caravan here. Add on the extensive travel time, and it was likely that someone was waiting for a big enough shipment to justify the trip.
His mind returned to the land of the living, where tightly packed constructions gave way to paths large enough for a cart to properly traverse. Their destination came fully into view for the first time.
True to the claims, the place was a mirror image of the base, down to the domed hub and hexagonal skylights. The double doors serving as the main entrance were only missing the scar on the bio-lock where Joseph had asked Mama to disable it when they initially found the place—though it seemed to have been bypassed with another method. It was such a subtle difference, but it was enough to put him on edge.
This wasn’t home. It wasn’t safe.
Tel took his hand in her paw, her own narrowed gaze alert. He felt a strained smile of appreciation for the gesture form before her attention shifted to dawdling members of the pack that wanted to see what the fuss was about. Curiosity sated, or merely intimidated by the contents of their investigation, they were quick to return to whatever they had been doing.
Blind to the caution of their charges, Leader and Tech continued their casual progression towards the building, pausing when their servant escort informed them that they would be meeting behind the building rather than inside of it. Some part of the Grand Hunter was thankful for the adjustment in venue; he couldn’t picture walking through an alien version of a place he had come to care about. Seeing Violet’s room being devoid of her sculptures and stacks of used tablets would just feel wrong.
They walked around Sunundra’s facilities wing, the view of the rooms inside hazy and indistinct. Volta made a habit of keeping the windows perfectly clean, so not seeing the medbay or kitchen through the glass was a surreal experience for him. It helped separate the two instances in his mind, but also reminded him of what he was missing. There weren't any cooking classes where Tel would seem to come alive, no Atmo replenishing their prepared healroot, no moments of seeing someone spar in the gym through the doorway.
A wry smirk spread across his face as he shook his head. It was surprising how much he missed everyone, despite the paltry amount of time away from them. It was pathetic in a way, but it made him look forward to hugging his fluffy pack when he returned. Hell, maybe Mi’low could use one too. He would certainly prefer her company to being here longer than needed. Maybe they could work past her bitchiness.
They rounded the end of the wing, the river channel coming into view. The deep trench was devoid of water past a certain height, yet showed evidence of wear right up to the top. A shot of adrenaline coursed through his veins as hazy memories of suffering under the rapids surfaced. He wasn’t scared of water since he almost drowned, nor did he mind washing off on the way to Trill’s, but seeing the wide waterway roaring down below set him on edge. His instincts demanded that he not get closer to that than required, because there was an exceedingly low chance of another Atmo dragging his ass out if he fell in again. He studied the greying/grey clouds. It wouldn’t be long until the level of the water rose and it became far more dangerous to fall in.
Tel’s grip on his hand tightened, her tense gaze still managing to ask if he was okay.
“I’m fine,” he assured her, warily glancing at the trench. “Just remembered my first day here.”
Her eyes searched for evidence of more behind his answer before she returned her focus to surveying around them. They were out of sight from the pack now, buildings and the outpost blocking the view, but she kept her guard up anyway, scanning the rooftops between passive visual sweeps of the pathway they walked.
“I will blend in,” Tel informed him, giving a cursory glance to their escorts. “If they have hidden snipers or the like, it would be better to remove them before they can be used.” A claw raised his mask, her kiss stopping him from protesting. Her amber eyes grew warm as she parted with a smirk. “You need not worry while I still draw breath, my male. You can call for me at any time if you grow lonely.”
He held her paw firmly and gave it a squeeze, failing to keep a completely serious tone. “Stay around and stay out of trouble. I’ll say you had to use the bathroom or something if anybody asks.”
She winked, lined up with a wall, and kicked off it to silently to disappear onto the rooftops. He reminded himself that if anyone was worth believing in, it was her. It didn’t stop the subtle feeling of vulnerability, but he trusted her to do as she said.
When they were about to cross the last corner close to the river, two armed Lilhuns walked in front of them, one gesturing for their weapons while the other kept an eye out. The UM members rolled their eyes before complying. Joseph was about to follow suit and give them his hidden crossbow, knowing that it was unlikely anyone would notice his bracers serving double-duty and that it would be useless without the bolts he kept on a belt, but the guards waved him off before he had even so much as opened his coat, happy to have the guns.
“Your protection is our duty as well—as long as you do not attempt to harm the Grand Huntress,” one of them explained when they noticed him tilt his head, though they grew wary once they registered the Wraith armour.
Satisfied with their warning, the guard holding all the weapons left to put them away for safekeeping, the other motioning for them to continue and making it clear they would be nearby if something came up.
Significantly less confident to have his temporary friends less armed than he was, Joseph took a breath, preparing himself for anything and everything that might be waiting for him. A few steps was all it took to bring their goal into view, as well as shatter his new resolve. A sense of stunned familiarity took its place.
Instead of a farm and garden like he was used to, there was an extended platform reaching over the wide waterway, the drop fenced in by thick steel poles and a wooden floor laid over a metal base being populated by benches. His eyes widened from how pedestrian it all looked. Were it back on Earth, he wouldn’t have been surprised to see the setup almost anywhere—picnic spots for families or rest areas built along nature trails looking much the same. It took a moment to register that there was someone waiting for them.
A light grey-furred female rested her arms on the railing at the end of the platform, a faded yellow colour starting at her jaw and continuing down the front of her torso. Scars varying in size covered her shoulder, stomach, and legs. A leather chest binder and shorts kept her modest, her regretful visage peering into the water below. Her ear tipped towards them when they walked onto the wooden planks of the platform, the female taking a deep breath before pushing off the barrier to face them.
A shift in the wind matched timing with her scowl, the expression only deepening when her eyes rested on Joseph’s mask before it faded to a more neutral frown. The servant who escorted them there took an additional step forward, turning around and bowing to signal her exit. Her confusion grew obvious when she noticed the missing fourth member she was supposed to be guiding. Joseph made a subtle gesture for her to remain quiet, earning a conflicted gaze in response.
Pulling a pouch from his pocket, he offered the collection of dried meats to the starving female. Hunger won her silence, paws hesitantly taking his bribe before she sniffed the contents and rocketed her gaze back up to him. The once present fear dissipated in favour of gratitude and remorseful acceptance.
The Grand Huntress cleared her throat, nodding her head for the servant to leave, ignoring the transfer of food. With a teary bow of thankfulness, they were left alone with the faded-fur female.
“Due to their tight lips,” Sunundra began, waving a paw limply towards the soldiers. “I fear you will find me at the disadvantage of not knowing your name.”
The Grand Hunter kept his tone level. “It’s polite to introduce yourself first.”
Despite the hostility he was expecting, the Grand Huntress just looked tired. Her disapproving frown seemed etched into her skin by years of wear, rather than worn purposely. Her voice was firm, but in a way he recognized from anyone who had spent too long telling others to stop doing stupid shit while knowing that they would anyway. Her posture was relaxed, but not dismissive. Really, the most disagreeable part of her was that she seemed annoyed by having more than one guest.
A nonplussed blink was returned for his insistence. “You are aware of who I am, I do believe. Otherwise, I doubt you would be here.” The Grand Huntress crossed her arms and sighed. “But if I must, I am Sunundra, Grand Huntress of this pack. I seek to meet the Grand Hunter who is in possession of something I have a great interest in. I take it that you are them?”
“Joseph,” the Human reciprocated with a nod.
“A strange accent you hold, biped.”
He shrugged. “Still learning the language, Grand Huntress Sunundra.”
She breathed out slowly. “Sunundra. I find the titles impede discussions.”
Joseph raised his brows in surprise, thankful that the mask covered it. Being down wind from her also meant that he would probably have to get pretty worked up for her to notice anything, so it was a fairly even playing field for now. “Works for me. Feel free to do the same.”
The faintest smirk was formed and banished from the Grand Huntress’ lips, replaced again by a facsimile of a positive expression. “Good. Now, this is a conversation that is best had only by those involved.” She gave a pointed glance to Tech and Leader. “You two are free to wait elsewhere, but I ask that you vacate the area due to the sensitive nature.”
“Apologies,” Leader replied sternly. “But we are required to act in favour of his protection for the duration.”
“And I am absolving you of such responsibilities until we are finished,” Sunundra returned, soft irritation tinting her tone.
“You lack the authority to do such, Grand Huntress,” Tech advised, stepping forward to be in line with her partner. “The arrangement is set with the UM as its arbiter. Given that we are the only two recognized members, we insist on our involvement.”
The grey and yellow-furred female took a breath, making her annoyance clear with the soft growl she put into the exhale. “Second wave Special Tactics Officer ‘Demo.’ Authorization code four-six-four-nine. Iras branch of the United Military.”
Leader and Tech shared a disturbed glance, the dark green-furred male hesitantly responding first. “Fourteenth wave STO ‘Leader.’ Auth code one-four-four-five. Geras branch.”
The purple-furred female continued as soon as the male finished. “Eighteenth wave STO ‘Tech.’ Auth code one-one-nine-three. Geras Branch.”
Sunundra smiled mirthlessly. “Then allow me to rephrase my request in a way you will understand. You are to vacate the area effective immediately and await summons to return to your duty. Confirmation code four-six-four-four.”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
The two escorts reluctantly gave a shallow bow, an apologetic frown given to their charge. “Order received and acknowledged.”
Joseph blinked in bewilderment as the two soldiers simply walked back the way they had come, leaving just him with the Grand Huntress on the platform and the river burbling below. Seeming satisfied that the additional guests were out of earshot, she turned her attention back to the masked Human.
“Much less stressful, no?”
He disagreed.
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Tel parted from her Sheath, waiting the interval for the purple-furred female’s proximity sensor to register her presence before kicking off the wall and vanishing from sight on the rooftops. For pure amusement, she watched the female grow confused, then felt disappointed when she only exhaled a little louder than usual and ignored the Wraith’s disappearance.
Oh well.
The group were stopped by guards, the Lilhuns ignoring Joseph since the Human had no obvious weaponry. They also misinterpreted his confusion as concern for his safety, forcing Tel to stifle a giggle with her paw. He would be in no danger while she was near. She would see to that.
Satisfied that nothing worth mentioning would happen for the moment, she scouted out the meeting area, noting the Grand Huntress looking to be lost in thought as she gazed into the water. No weapons or guards were nearby, so Tel moved to the next area.
There really wasn’t much to check, as much as she was prepared to. The river blocked off any chance of closer ranged arms being used, and the repeating structure of warehouses left little in the way of cover for any snipers, so she failed to find any threats on that side of the settlement either. Crossing unnoticed was perhaps the most challenging, but traversing under the bridge kept her out of view long enough to do it without complication.
She noted the number of patrolling guards armed with weapons and their approximate routes, not wanting to be removed from Joseph long enough for a detailed inspection. She doubted he would come to harm in the short while she wasn’t directly observing him—the soldiers guarding him were some comfort, if less effective than herself—but it pulled at her to be close to him in the event her skills were needed. If he wished to draw blood.
Tel went prone atop a warehouse to view the platform where her mate and the Grand Huntress were meeting, noticing a small exchange that ended with Leader and Tech giving a military bow and leaving her male unattended. She felt her fur bristle at the possible betrayal, but even from this far away she could see the annoyance on their faces. Wanting to trust in her Sheath's judgment of the dark green-furred male, she took a breath to ease her building ire. She would finish her observations here quickly, then rejoin him. Discovering why they left him unattended could wait.
As could punishing them for it.
She quickened her inspection, mentally mapping possible escape routes in loose fashion before slipping into shadows to return to him. Again, the bridge was simple, if a bit obnoxious to pass while remaining unseen. The new issue was a matter of where she should set up once she got back. Joseph and the Grand Huntress were completely atop the suspended portion of the platform.
Under it is, she supposed.
Scaling the side of the channel was surprisingly difficult, yet manageable all the same. She was lucky in that there was support underneath the platform that she could stand or sit on, so she found one directly underneath the Grand Huntress, peering through the thin slats between the boards to listen in on the conversion.
It was fairly mundane, the female apparently having given permission to forgo titles and Joseph having extended the same courtesy. Sunundra asked probing questions about the Atmo, as well as general affairs. The Human deflected some and answered others, never giving much besides that which could could be assumed based on what was easily observable.
Despite the casual tone she spoke in, the Grand Huntress’ scent was of a permanent irritation, suggesting that she remained displeased by his unwillingness to divulge even the simplest of answers to her queries. One such question caught the Wraith’s attention, however.
“Have you taken a mate, Joseph?” Sunundra asked casually, shifting her weight and making the floor creak quietly. It came out perfectly natural, devoid of suspicion or judgment. For the life of her, Tel couldn’t detect a single ulterior motive to the question. It was a simple bit of small-talk before they got to more important matters. Two people disarming tension by sharing the inconsequential. Positions of power discarded for the moment so that they might simply converse without expectations. She could tell that Joseph was eased by the familiar motions and banality, his voice becoming smoother and less strained as topics wandered and postures relaxed.
There remained a curiosity, however. Tel’s mark should still be perfectly obvious. Unlike herself, Joseph had not covered his with ‘peppermint’ before they left the settlement.
She was unable to dig deeper into the oddity before the two concluded meaningless chatter and moved to the topic of why they had come in the first place, the Grand Huntress requesting ownership of the Atmo in Joseph’s possession. Returning with a non-answer, the male asked to see where they would be kept, though the tint of amusement in Sunundra’s voice suggested that she didn’t believe the motivations behind the desire.
Regardless, she obliged, offering to lead the way, the same tint of agitation present in the air.
Tel frowned as she slipped away back to the warehouses. Something didn’t quite add up, and it made her wary.
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Sunundra led him back through the settlement, the pack making an effort to avoid her to the best of their ability. It was odd to see them seem so cautious of her. Sure, she was a bit terse and asked some fairly personal questions, but she seemed more exhausted than hostile. It honestly reminded him of Robert after a series of tedious meetings. When pleasantries were second nature and all the shits she had to give were gone, but she still had to keep it together to finish what she started.
Curious reactions aside, he was reminded what planet he was on when the rain started. It was just a light mist, the occasional light peck of water tapping against his hood, but he knew that wouldn’t stay so mild forever. If nothing else, Tel would be able to move around easier with the soft noise the precipitation made.
The river grew louder as they neared their destination, the water level already rising in response to the weather. The guards blocking the passage between the two halves of the settlement parted for them, their lingering gaze fixed on the scorched moss-wolf mask that Joseph adjusted to keep his face hidden and redirect the splatter of raindrops from his face. A look from the Grand Huntress was enough to discourage comment from them, so he remained only mildly bothered. He could feel their eyes burning a hole in his back, though.
They approached the warehouses, passing armed patrol units who seemed far more used to the Grand Huntress, none so much as adjusting their footing as she walked by on the smooth dirt paths. More guns like those that Tech and Leader used were equipped, armour much the same. The appraising gazes remained, but none made any obvious moves to further inspect him, instead letting him go by with only enough recognition to register that Sunundra was accompanied by someone ‘unarmed.’
“Why do you have so many warehouses?” he queried, curiosity getting the better of him. Sunundra’s ear pivoted, flicking off some of the moisture it collected as she continued looking forward. “Doesn’t look like there’s anything here. No people, barely any tracks from carts. Can’t imagine you actually keep much inside of them.”
“One would be best served hiding a tree in the forest, no?”
He tilted his head to concede the logic. People would be less likely to question an entire warehouse district over a singular guarded one. “So one of these holds them all? Or are they split amongst all of them.”
The Grand Huntress looked over her shoulder to smirk weakly at him. “You are in possession of them. You of all people should know how large they are.”
His hidden frown failed to convey his annoyance. He was debating making it known verbally when she changed direction and approached one of the guarded doors, the Lilhun on duty glancing at the two requesting access and opening the way without a word. Joseph hesitated before following her in, his confusion growing when the door closed behind him to leave him in the large building alone with the grey and yellow-furred female. He stood where he was, rolling his wrist to reassure himself that his bracers were still on, taking the time to observe the empty structure and pillars supporting the weight of the roof. Her voice broke him from his cautious scanning of the large singular room.
“What race are you, Joseph?” Sunundra asked casually as she walked around at a languid pace, the rain beginning to drum on the roof of the warehouse. She glanced up with a sigh, her voice low and wistful, a passing thought meant for none but herself. “I once enjoyed the rain, long ago.”
“Yeah, this place does that to people,” he muttered, adjusting his mask and shaking off some of the water on his arm. “Does it matter what I am?”
“It does,” she affirmed, lowering her gaze to him. “One must know about those who they wish to deal with. More so, if I am to show you them.”
“You know I have Atmo and dragged my ass all the way here on request. That and whatever you asked me out there sounds like enough to me.”
Sunundra gave a thoughtful nod. “I see.”
She meandered around a bit more, a paw reaching out to touch the supports she passed. The female came to a stop, tenderly resting her paw on a wooden beam, her gaze somewhere far away from the building they occupied. Pain and sorrow flickered through her pupils before she closed her eyes, a long exhale steadying her breathing. One eyelid cracked, the amber iris only a sliver to show that she was looking towards him at all. “Human, why do you seek them, exactly? Why not give them to one who may keep them from harm?”
He took a step back, a finger prepared to push the deployment mechanism on his bracer. “So much for not knowing.”
A huff escaped her, the Grand Huntress turning to face him slowly. “If I can not trust you to speak of what you are, why would I trust you to know the location of that which I shelter?”
No matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t find malice in her expression. Only the same wear that had always been there. The face of someone who had seen too much. Done too much. Someone who wanted no more of it, but couldn’t stop. A soul yearning for it to end, yet the flesh still dragged itself forward despite the protests.
“How do you know about humans?” he prodded, not quite ready to relax yet. She was completely unarmed, but those claws still counted for something. Sunundra crossed her arms and walked towards him, each footfall taking longer than the last as she stared at the floor.
“I know they were tricked into participating in the same disgusting games that the Union made my people play,” she whispered, taking another step. “I know what happened to those who left to find employment to feed their kits, only to never return.” Another. “I know the Union took an interest in the bonds that could be formed with them. Perverted those gifts into twisted torture while ignoring the torn sobs and soulful pleas. Watched with pens and paper while my kind shrieked over the loss of those loved bonds. As my people silenced themselves with their own claws to follow them into the Void, because each moment became a tempest of agony without them, the cold blood staining their fur telling them, in no uncertain terms, that their salvation had faded before their eyes.”
He backed up in time with her advances—uncomfortable, rather than threatened. She continued undeterred, his words unable to be voiced through his churning thoughts.
“I know they sought defects to sate idle curiosity. I know they discovered that those afflicted could bond, and saw subjects, rather than the downtrodden.” A roiling fury churned beneath the even cadence, her words coming out faster, louder, and clipped. A snarl pulled at her muzzle. “I know they experimented on them to ‘fix’ them; cuts and chemicals marring what was already broken—claiming it success, if only partial. I know they separated those defects from their bonds and measured how much suffering they would withstand from their minds turning into poison, just to see how they compared to their counterparts. Measured psychotic breaks and insanity through clinical lenses and deaf ears. Tracked suns and moons of tears and worry with little more empathy than one might regard paint drying upon a wall, until they thought it interesting to rip what held those souls together from their paws...just to see how long it would take to suffocate and choke on freshly broken hope.”
She stopped just a couple steps away from him as his back touched the wall, close enough to reach out and touch. He could hear the subtle signs of a cracking voice, an old wound resurfaced and rubbed raw. A wound never truly forgotten, for it was never permitted to fade, the stinging renewed time and time again. She raised her eyes from the space between them, a dampness secondary to the rage behind them.
“I know the pain of losing what I should have never had, and I know exactly how far I will go to see those responsible gurgle on the blood of their kin as I play amongst the corpses.” Her voice dropped to a chilling hiss of syllables. “I will do what they did to me, unceasing until the last light fades from the last eye, and the Void is ready to take me to his side.”
She took a breath, her eyes widening the slightest bit as they rose to meet his beneath the mask. “I have but one purpose before I might be loosed upon those who brought my ire, yet I can not forget what was taught to me. What kindness your people were able to show one such as I. That is why I shelter them. Because he would do the same, and I only live to carry his last wishes.”
The dots connected, a building suspicion confirmed. He fought the discomfort of the situation, swallowing to make room for speech. “You were in the ‘Cross-species interaction initiative.’”
A sad smirk formed, her eyes carrying the pain. “I was.”
“Then those scars...” His question was stopped by Sunundra reaching to remove his mask, the slow motion and silent request enough for him to cautiously allow it. The hood fell back, a tiny yet genuine smile appearing on her muzzle.
“It has been quite some time since I’ve seen one of you,” she admitted with a damp laugh, a tear wetting her fur. Her paw gently caressed his cheek, her bleary gaze telling him that it wasn’t him she was touching, but a distant memory. “So similar, yet just different enough.”
“Different enough for what?”
She blinked away the moisture, her voice hoarse. “To remind me I will never hold him again. Forgive me for a moment.”
He opened his mouth to ask what for, but Sunundra leaned into him, resting her head in the crook of his neck, her paws pressing gingerly against his chest. He froze as a war was waged to determine if he should comfort the quietly grieving female, or drive his bracer into her rib cage and demand some space. Thankfully, the decision was made for him as she pushed herself away to arm’s length rapidly, her scrutinizing gaze burning into him as her voice hung like fragile glass.
“What is your name?”
He blinked, both caught off guard by the intensity of the query and confused by the content. “We did introductions already. Joseph.”
She clutched his coat in her paws, the words nearly silent, yet infinitely loud. “Full name.”
“Why the fuck do you care? It’s not like you guys make a habit of it.”
The Grand Huntress ignored his irritated attempts to separate from her grasp, a desperate plea hidden behind the intensity. “We do not identify by bloodlines, but by pack and den. Your people do.”
“And what does this have to do with my name?”
“Please...” she begged quietly.
He matched her gaze, exhaling through his nose. He wasn’t speaking to Grand Huntress Sunundra right now. He was talking to someone who had lost a loved one. It was evident down to the subtle tremor in her paws. Seconds passed until he voiced the answer she sought, the fight drained from him. “Joseph Ryan Wright. Why?”
A silence permeated the room, broken only by the patter of rain atop the roof of the building. Sunundra turned away without a word, stepping towards the centre of the room before stopping. She stared upwards, as if the ceiling didn’t exist and she could watch the stars through wood, daylight, and cloud coverage.
“And why do you seek the Atmo, Joseph?”
“Happen to have taken one as kit,” he replied softly, letting her lead the conversation as she gathered her thoughts. “I wanted her to have a family here.”
The female lowered her head to look at the far wall, nodding. “If any would do as much, it would be a human.” A dry chuckle sounded out, hopeful yet pained. “Do you have a relation to a William Wright, Joseph? A kin named Robert?”
The clack of his bracer deploying gained no reaction, his voice a warning. Demanding, rather than questioning. “How do you know those names?”
She remained passive, her arms staying limp at her sides. “I came across a list of those taken from their dens. ‘Subjects.’ It included which kin would be notified upon their expiry; a formality to dissuade investigation.”
She turned to face him, droplets of her painful memories falling to the floor as a smile formed. “My bond asked that I tell whomever I could about the truth of the Union. Find his people, and give them what I had collected, for we would find an ally in our revenge. I am to give those they are survived by the knowledge of how their loved ones had passed.”
Joseph closed the distance and grabbed her by the top, bringing the blade of his bracer to her throat. “Shut up.”
She continued without fear, her tired eyes holding the smallest hint of life. “I memorized much of the list, but there were too many names. Too many kin. Too many lost.”
“Stop. Talking.”
Her paw cupped his cheek, dampness choking her voice as blade bit into skin. “I still remember that one though.” A defeated laugh followed. “Years of clinging to the memory, unsure if I would ever find any of them, and one finds me.”
Sunundra brought her paws to his arms, freeing herself of his conflicted grasp, himself unable to force it as she slid to hold his hands. A light squeeze was given as a bead of blood stained the fur on her neck. “Your sire was a part of the program that stole what I held most dear from my claws, Joseph. I fear you may have already mourned his loss, but you should know the truth. The Union took him from you.”
His throat dried, mind not wanting to believe what he was hearing. “He left a long time ago. He died in an accident at a construction site. I got the letter. I went to his funeral.”
The female continued holding his hands, shaking her head slowly. “He was lied to, and in turn, you as well. His name was near the top of the casualty list.”
Life drained out of him, strength failing his legs as resolve cracked beneath the glass floor of his psyche. She followed him down as he fell to his knees, himself only passingly aware that she had embraced him, her paw rubbing his back. His vacant stare persisted as she spoke quietly.
“They have taken much from many. It is why I shelter those who are scorned by my own kin until I can get them to proper safety,” she whispered. Sunundra slowly separated to arms length, brushing his unnoticed tears with her fur. “Would you like to meet them? See what I offer the kin of your kit?”
Unable to speak at the moment, he nodded, accepting the assistance to his feet. Numbness persisted as he processed the reality of her words, but there was something alight in the depths of his soul. Something that burned and weakened the chains holding back a part of himself he had desperately locked away.
The Grand Huntress returned a weak smile, parting to stomp on the floor in a specific pattern. A section of floor lifted, a green Atmo curiously peering from a stairwell leading underground. He was too disconnected to care, his mind reeling. She waited his episode out patiently, extending a paw for him to take when he finally met her gaze again.
“They have taken from us, Joseph. Let us save what we have left.”
He took it, a part of his soul shifting the smallest amount.
The chains loosened.