Sophie Wilkins was angry.
Mainly, it was because somebody had snuck past the patrols, including her. Even if the guards managed to catch the interloper, they’d still get punishment duty and a berating from the Alpha. Though considering what a racket the intruder had made and the distinctive scent trail they were leaving, Sophie could tell they were headed straight for the radio automaton. Whether they were going to loot it or turn it on didn’t matter – what mattered was that Sophie got them and gave the intruder the beating of their life, especially for making her transform in the sun. Keeping coherent while transformed was a balancing act even at night, and the light of the sun was driving her crazy. The aforementioned anger didn’t help. The werewolf was walking on a tight ledge and wasn’t sure if she was going to beat the intruder senseless or just flat-out kill them. She fingered her weapon in one claw, identifying it in an attempt to calm down.
[Double-Barrel Shotgun (Sawn-Off Model)]
Types: Firearm, Modified, One-Handed, Projectile, Ranged
Effective Range: 16 meters (Spread)
Shots: 2/Reload
Ammo Type: 10 Gauge Scattershot/10 Gauge Slug
Damage: 50 (Divided/10 Projectiles if using Scattershot)
Scarcity: Common
Description: An old scattergun modified to spread its shot in a wider radius, making it capable of hitting multiple targets. Has poor range and accuracy but is durable and simple to repair
Finger off the trigger… Sophie reminded herself. I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot from an itchy claw. Continuing up the path, Sophies muscular, fit form made it easily up the path, following the thief’s strange scent. Passing by the old Heretic Portal, Sophie was confused that the intruder’s scent had gone in there as well. That didn’t make sense. The Portal had been surrounded by a Ward since the Pack had moved in. So how did the intruder get in? Maybe they have a Ward-breaking Skill? Still, there was no time to waste, with the intruder doing who-knew-what in the radio station. Picking up the pace, the werewolf's ears picked up the whine of the generator starting up. Shit, they’re turning it on! a voice called out in Sophie’s brain. She would have liked to go in guns-blazing and turn the intruder into chunks of meat. However, whoever they were was good, and for all Sophie knew, they were packing a submachine gun. So, slowly and carefully, Sophie crept up… until she heard the Automaton speaking.
“Hello, and thank you for tuning into 150.8, your best source for tunes, news, and local weather forecasting. Unfortunately, we seem to have been deactivated for a few decades, so you’ll have to wait on the news bit until I get into contact with my brother and sister stations. However, the tunes and weather will still be coming forth. My thanks to one Jacob Myers for turning me back on after those werewolves unhooked my power connector.”
The fact that the Automaton had let loose her Pack’s location almost drove Sophie over the edge. Stalking up to the open door, she saw a skinny, pale-skinned man with white hair inside. His back was to the werewolf, but quickly turned around when he heard Sophie growling. The man’s purple eyes widened in fear when he saw the double-barrel pointed at him. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Sophie snarled. In response, the man gulped and stuttered “I-I,” he stated, looking around for something. A weapon. He doesn’t have a weapon? Does he specialize in unarmed? He seems too inexperienced and undisciplined to be… wait.
Sophie quickly Identified the man and gaped at what she saw.
Forsaken, Level 0
The shotgun lowered a few inches as the werewolf reeled. This… man was well into adulthood and was Level Zero. Level. Fucking. Zero. It had to be an illusion. There was no way anyone could have survived into adulthood at LEVEL ZERO. Then, it hit her.
“You came from the Heretic Portal,” Sophie stated, some of the anger dissipating into shock. The Forsaken – whatever that was – nodded, nervous. “Yes…” he looked embarrassed. “I-I’m sorry about breaking into the house, but…” A greyish cast came over his face, and Sophie realized he was blushing. “I… was kind of naked.” Sophie looked at the Forsaken, confused. “Why would you arrive naked? Those coming from portals are usually outfitted with at least basic gear. At least that’s what I was told…” Sophie then remembered what she’d come for, though now she felt a small bit of pity for the man. However, she was still going to be punished for his antics, and that was what kept the shotgun from being lowered fully. “Look, I’m going to have to turn the radio off. You’ve caused enough damage from just turning the thing on. I don’t know why you turned it on, but-“
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“I had a quest for it…” The man said nervously, fidgeting.
Sophie paused again. “Your starting quest was turning on the radio station?” she asked.
“Well… no. My main quest was to scavenge in the town.”
The werewolf paused for a moment. “Well, tough luck on that. We took everything useful when the Pack moved in.” The man was surprised. “There’s more of you?” he asked. Sophie cringed inside. Shit. Now he knows we’ve got a hoard. Come on, Sophie, be more intimidating. Raising the shotgun again, the man cringed back and she rolled her eyes. “Oh come on, you never had a gun at your face before?” He shook his head. “…No…” The werewolf was surprised. “You a noble or something?” He shook his head. “No, I was a clerk at a convenience store. Meh pay, long hours, but not particularly labor-intensive.” Sophie was confused by this. “What’s a ‘clerk’?” she asked. “Or a ‘convenience store?’ The Forsaken shrugged. “Somewhere where people can buy cheap food for the road or a treat. Maybe some small electronics, news, or smokes and drinks.”
This still didn’t make sense to Sophie, but she nodded anyway. “Well… you seem to be in decent shape for… that.”He shrugged. “My old body looked way worse. This is an upgrade in almost every way…” he trailed off. “Except this one isn’t human…” he muttered. Sophie gave him a confused look. “What’s wrong with not being human?” she asked. “Humans may be… versatile, but they don’t really excel in anything. Besides, you said this body is superior to your old one. Why mourn for something you didn’t like?” The Forsaken shrugged. “It was… familiar, like an old routine that you don’t follow anymore but is still ingrained in some parts of you. Even if my old life was crap, it was stillmy life. It not being my life anymore may be for the better, but parts of it I still miss. My friends, for one. And my truck. The one photograph I had of me and my parents together. The bad parts are gone, but still… the good parts are as well.” Sophie only partially understood what the man was talking about, but then again she’d never died before and lost her entire life. However, there were more important matters at stake. Specifically how long she took to get back to the Cave, preferably with something to show for her trouble. “Look…” she said. “I’m going to have to take you with me. You’re probably going to get beaten up. But that’s worlds better than me having to shoot you. I’m guessing you haven’t even opened up half your stats, and you’re Level Zero,for System’s sake. You’re not going to survive for a day out there, and without your help, some of the Pack will gladly toss you out there and watch you get torn to shreds by monsters and cultists with glee.”
The Forsaken looked horrified at that and said, “They’d… do that? Why would you keep around sadists like that?” Sophie shrugged. “They’re good in a fight, and we need every hand to stay alive. We need pack members for raids and scavenging, and sometimes, those who feed off other’s pain are those who are the best fighters. The Forsaken didn’t look like that convinced him, but sighed. “What other choice do I have… Just don’t accidentally trigger that thing in my back.” Folding his arms over his head, the man stood in front of Sophie. “What’s your name?” the man asked.
“Sophie Wilkins,” she stated. “Yours?”
“Jacob Myer,” he said.
“Well, Jacob, welcome to the den of the Night Howler Werewolf Pack.”
====--------====
The journey to the bottom of the trail was even easier than the second, except for the two werewolves standing at the bottom of the path. Sophie had been forced to revert to her inert form, which was that of her old, elven self. Sophie hated it, mostly because it reminded her of her past and that she was wearing the bare minimum of clothing. Even in a community where most wore little more than breeches and vests or bras, there were still those who felt insecure about their body, and Sophia was one of them. The two higher-level werewolves, which she recognized as Brex and Linx – former Humans – carried iron axes and had single-shot pistols tucked into holsters. “So you finally caught something, Sophia?” Linx jabbed. “Six years since joining, and you haven’t fought anything tougher than a Dire Beetle. What’s this one? Level 5? 3?”
“None of your business,” Sophie retorted. “Found him messing around with the radio station.” Which I forgot to turn off. Damn it. The two more powerful werewolves looked at each other and grinned. “We’ll take this one from here,” Brex said. “Get back to your post Sophie.” She groaned inwardly but then realized something. They never Identified Jacob, she thought. They’re about to get a nasty surprise when they present Jacob to the Alpha. I just hope Jacob isn’t on the receiving end of it as well. Pretending to be reluctant, the werewolf pushed Jacob forward with the barrel of her shotgun. “All yours,” she stated sarcastically. Brex and Linx didn’t catch the sarcasm, and grinned cruelly, revealing their transformed bodies fangs. “Gladly,” Linx said gleefully, grabbing Jacob roughly by the shoulder. “Now come on you. Someone’s very interested in figuring out how you got in here without alerting any of us.” Jacob didn't look enthusiastic about switching handlers, but there was no way out of this. The two werewolves then led Jacob away, leaving Sophie to worry that either her bit of revenge was going to end up poorly for her, Jacob, or both.