In the heart of the forest, where the trees whispered ancient secrets, a silver female wolf’s body shook as the contractions began. Pain lanced through her, but hope also surged within her. With each contraction, she felt the start of a transformation, a chance for her offspring to possess strength or intelligence far beyond her own.
As the transformation unfolded, the wolf’s body shifted and settled into her humanoid form. Though she retained her wolf ears and slightly out-of-proportion features, her eyes held the same intelligent gleam. Bitterness gnawed at her for the lack of a more pronounced transformation, yet she clung to the hope that her child would inherit the strength and wisdom from the alpha of her pack. He was born in this shape and so would her child.
Her barely legible howls and grunts betrayed her lack of language, but her instincts guided her. Unlike a normal litter, she could sense the single life within her, fighting to escape. Hours later, she held her small cub close to her breast, its tiny mouth latching onto her nipple. Though she longed to express her love in words, her growls and barks had to suffice. Her son lived, a testament to her strength and resilience. He had retained the mixed form which would make him much more intelligent than she was.
However, as she held her cub, a sense of unease settled over her. Her keen ears, not quite as keen as in her normal form, caught the sounds of commotion outside the shelter, suggesting something was amiss. She lifted her head, her nostrils flaring as she tried to decipher the nature of the disturbance. Her protective instincts flared as she realized the sounds were getting closer, threatening the safety of her newborn child.
As the entrance to the shelter opened, the scent of another pack filled the air, confirming her worst fears. She swiftly pushed her son away and turned, transforming back into her natural wolf form. Two large wolves entered the cave, pushing aside the hides that had been concealing the shelter's entrance.
Despite her valiant efforts and numerous rallies, inspired by the watchful eyes of her son, the outcome was inevitable. Two menacing wolves emerged victorious. One clamped down on her hind leg, while the other unleashed a deadly grip on her throat before tearing it out. The killer, still dripping with blood, shifted into a huge hybrid form and cast a sinister smile downward as he reached for the child.
“This one will make a good slave.”
Wrapped in hides, the beast handed the captive to his subordinate.
"Take him with the others while I inform our leader that this group has been apprehended. Assign him to the vanguard; they will find the most utility in his skills."
As the younger wolf carried the child out of the cave, the air was thick with tension. The child remained silent, but its eyes seemed to capture every detail of the moment.
Silent, the one of the leaders within the Circle, reporting directly to the alpha, watched with a mixture of concern and anticipation. He had a brief moment of worry, but it was quickly forgotten as he remembered the purpose of their raid on the shaman's cave.
The materials gathered during this mission held the potential to promote another enhanced within the pack. The implications were significant. An additional summoner would strengthen their pack and enable them to expand their territory even further. The potential for growth and power overshadowed any lingering concerns Silent might have had when they began this hunt, and this was only the fifth pack they had taken down since then.
Driven by ambition, Silent pulled on the link to his familiar, an immaterial crow that soared high above the forest canopy. In an instant, he disappeared, leaving no trace behind.
On the outskirts of a small camp, the child was unceremoniously dropped among a rowdy group of individuals. The camp was home to a diverse array of species all adorned with odd collars. The wolf responsible for delivering the child turned and sniffed in disdain, his task completed he left to join the main pack.
A pale blue lizard with a feminine voice stepped forward. Covered in a peculiar ensemble of clothing crafted from roots and grass, she spoke, "I wouldn’t believe it if it wasn’t before us, another hybrid. The alpha of this pack must have been one. Are we lucky they hate their own kind this much?"
A similar colored lizard, much more bulky in build, approached. "We'll put them together then," he declared. "They can be their own pack as we have no others like them beyond Elias, and he despises children."
A small, waddling raccoon-like creature emerged, his eyes aglow. He looked over the boy, his eyes looking vague as if they were seeing beyond the child’s flesh. Deep within he could see a glow, which were patterns or arrays starting to form around the child's heart, mind and groin.
"What do you see?" inquired the male lizard.
"He's an innate summoner," the raccoon-like being replied. "I can already perceive his summoning array forming. If those wolves possessed this insight, they likely would have eliminated him, but they would never have surrendered him to us. And he’s got more than one circle forming. We must keep this secret."
"And the female, Beet, was she equal to this one?" the male lizard asked.
"She possesses potential for the mind, but she would require assistance," Beet responded, still peering through a magical array that resembled glasses. "However, with two enhanced, Silent will regret not bringing them under his control. Well, at least her, this one would be killed by the alpha the moment he completes his summoning, and nothing is going to stop that eventually."
"Putting them together might significantly aid her development," Beet continued. "But we must maintain discretion regarding his innate abilities. I'll ensure they are aware of their potential, but they'd never assist us with materials unless replacements are required."
As the conversation unfolded, several other figures approached the camp, and additional slaves from the vanquished pack were assimilated into the Vanguards. Each of them being a non-wolf-like being.
Beet grumbled internally, his frustration rising like a tide within him. Once again, he attempted to establish a complete connection with his familiar, yearning for the boundless power that lay dormant within him. However, the collar encircling his neck served as a stark reminder of the limitations imposed upon him. While he could still access and utilize his lesser abilities, the higher echelons of his power remained tantalizingly out of reach, locked behind an impenetrable barrier. The collar seemed to possess a will of its own, constantly monitoring and suppressing his true potential. Beet knew that as long as the collar remained in place, his growth would be stifled, and his dreams of unlocking the full extent of his abilities would be nothing more than a distant mirage.
"Lia, escort this one to the followers. At least a couple of them have recently given birth, and we already sent the other one to the medical tent. If they meet the requirements, they will be of suitable age to join the vanguard in about six years. " Beet then proceeded to examine the other slaves. He could already discern that none of them possessed exceptional strength, and there were no signs of a familiar, indicating that they were mortal. "More for our followers, though not all will survive given our limited resources," he mused.
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In preparation for the celebration of the destruction of the enemy pack on the ruins of their home, the camp followers fervently erected a meal area and shelter for the vanguard. Lia carried the young male child back to the campsite construction area.
Within a spacious medical tent, Lia witnessed the wounded receiving care. Her attention was drawn to a woman with a child nearby. Despite the woman's partial elven heritage, Lia perceived her mortality and noticed the similarity between the child and the one she carried, except for the red hue of the child's ears contrasted with her baby's silvery blue. Lia considered the woman’s potential value.
"Excellent, they've already handed you the other child. What of your own?" Lia inquired.
"She perished," the woman responded sadly. "Her mixed breed couldn't sustain her, and she couldn't survive."
"Unfortunate, but there's hope for these," Lia said. "Here's another child. You will care for them, but know that they will become full members of the vanguard. Your life pales in comparison to theirs."
The elf nodded solemnly. "What are their names?" she asked.
"I don't care, and they don't either," Lia replied.
Lia turned and exited the tent. In the middle of the camp, she harnessed the power of life around her. The crushed grass and plants beneath the tent stirred, forming an array, and the tent pulsed with additional energy. Those experiencing pain felt it subside, and the wounds ceased bleeding. While this wouldn’t fully heal them, it would give the followers caring for them a chance to potentially save a few. Though not summoners, they all possessed potential, making them more hardy than most. That's why they were in the vanguard, leading the charge. Slaves always served best on the front lines.
The elf looked lovingly down at the two children. They weren’t her own, but they did fill a void that she had. Looking at the girl she spoke, “You will be Nare. I was going to name my own child after my spirit guide Fëanáro, but you can have part of her name and fire does seem to fit you.” She smiled while still crying.
The male child had found her other breast and was now uncomfortably feeding, his teeth were sharper than the girls and she could feel the pain as the skin broke. She slowly pet his ears which twitched at her touch to calm him down. “And you shall hold the other part of my life, Dae, the shadows.”
As the years unfolded, the two children grew and matured under the care of their new mother. However, their path quickly diverged from the other children in the camp, as they started to be trained by the vanguard. Lia, Beet, and Zy, the male lizard, took them under their wings and imparted their knowledge and skills.
Zy, a skilled combatant almost monk-like in his dedication, taught them the art of hand-to-hand combat, utilizing fists, claws, and feet. Emphasizing the need for stealth, he honed their senses, allowing them to move unseen and strike undetected. Beet and Lia, on the other hand, nurtured their minds. They taught them to read and write, opening up realms of knowledge and understanding. They delved into the principles of energy summoning, explaining how it could be channeled and shaped into arrays that could manipulate reality, bestowing abilities and enhancing skills. Beet showed them abilities based on elemental energy and manipulating the world around them and Lia showed them natural energy, using the plants and trees to work her abilities. As such, they showed the three different facets that summons could affect, the body, the world and reality itself.
While Nare found purpose in the physical aspects of their training, reveling in the battles and honing her strength, Dae excelled in stealth and knowledge. The two took different paths, Nare growing stronger and more robust, while Dae focused on speed and agility, becoming a nimble and elusive fighter.
During their enslavement, they discovered that they were part of a more extensive world populated by various races, including humans, elves, dwarves, and others. However, they and their fellow captives in the Wilds were collectively referred to as Beasts or Beastfolk. They resided within the untamed Wilds, far from established civilization. None of the vanguard had witnessed a genuine city or country, despite their knowledge of a Beast capital situated in the Eastern Wilds.
They learned that as slaves, they would be joining a group called the Vanguard, which served as a sacrificial unit utilized by the pack to absorb the initial casualties in battles or raids. While only four enhanced in the group possessed familiars when the two joined, every active member had the potential for such. This potential granted them various enhancements, including improved results from training, enhanced memory, and retention, as well as the ability to build and maintain their physical bodies, resulting in some members attaining extraordinary strength beyond mortal capabilities. Despite the group's efforts to gather materials for summoning, the low quality of resources and the lack of assistance had prevented them from performing a successful summoning since the two had joined.
By the age of six, both individuals bore a striking resemblance to someone in their early twenties. Nare, towering over six feet tall with well-defined muscles. Her wolf form was among the largest within the pack, yet she remained an outcast and a member of the vanguard due to her primary form. Nare's combat skills had advanced, and she had transitioned from training under Zy's guidance to sparring with Elias. Though it took some time for Elias to acknowledge the two due to their shared uniqueness, his proficiency with weapons, enhanced by his connection to a fire elemental as his familiar, complemented Nare's fighting style admirably.
Dae, determined to bolster his capabilities, continued his partnership with Zy. Fate smiled upon them this year, presenting him with the opportunity to learn from two additional teachers. The arrival of a pair of cat-like beasts, twin sisters possessing unique abilities named Mai and Sai, added a new dimension to the group's dynamic. Similar to the wolves, these twins had the remarkable ability to shift forms, a skill not commonly found among their peers.
Mai possessed a predilection for dark and stealthy activities. She expanded Dae's training, introducing him to the art of assassination and the use of poisons. Her expertise in these areas pushed Dae's skills to new heights, honing his precision and finesse.
Sai, in contrast, harbored a passion for hunting and survival. She imparted her knowledge of tracking, foraging, and wilderness navigation to Dae and Nare. Her lessons instilled a deep understanding of the natural world and the skills necessary to thrive in harsh environments.
Under the tutelage of these exceptional teachers, Dae's abilities evolved and diversified. He embraced the stealth and cunning of the cat-like beasts, incorporating their techniques into his arsenal. At the same time, he developed a deep appreciation for the wilderness, learning how to navigate its challenges and exploit its resources.
By the age of eight, both Nare and Dae had joined the vanguard and fought in numerous battles. Nare, with her indomitable spirit and unwavering determination, wielded a formidable great sword that was both ugly and capable. This weapon was a testament to her ferocity and her willingness to embrace her hybrid form, which she unleashed when her anger reached its peak. However, due to the immense power she possessed, she often lost a weapon like that every other battle. This particular great sword was different though, as it had once belonged to a summoner, making it less likely to shatter under the strain of her transformation.
Nare's armor was meticulously crafted from several layers of hides and other materials, designed to break away seamlessly when she shifted into her hybrid form, accommodating the changes in her body. She understood the importance of adaptability on the battlefield and had learned from her previous experiences.
Dae, on the other hand, was smaller in stature and possessed a natural affinity for stealth. He preferred to lurk in the shadows, utilizing his agility and cunning to strike his enemies. While he carried a variety of tools and weapons, his favorite remained his own hands and claws. His wolf form had not grown significantly, but his agility with it allowed him to move like a phantom on the battlefield, seamlessly shifting from one location to another.
Scars adorned their bodies, a testament to their intense battles and the risks they faced as mortals who lacked the enhanced healing abilities of their teachers. Despite the dangers, they fearlessly participated in raids, always positioning themselves in the thick of the fighting, eager to prove their worth and contribute to the pack.