CHPT 218: Howl of Acceptance.
NoxIce Keep suddenly felt very large and predatory in Samuel's eyes, like a looming beast patiently waiting to have its food brought to it.
It's presence only got larger— plunging its Vampire occupied peaks further into the cold sky, with every step Samuel was forced to make towards the castle.
The other Lupines that dropped their heads in respect let their eyes wander over to him. Increasing his growing fear further after seeing so many predators watching and scenting him. It reminded him of his nights spent in the Deviant being hunted.
For a moment he was back in the dark forest while he looked at them all eyeing him— the moment didn't last long though. The castle seemed to demand his attention— easily overpowering his recent trauma's with its magically haunting presence.
Jack shook Samuel as they walked through the snow, closer to the castle, "Relax. You're more like me than you think kiddo….Remus needs those that are like us. You cant die here."
Samuel had no idea what Jack meant— and he definitely didn't see any similarities between himself and Jack, so he ignored him. A task made easier by the loud pound of his heart in his ears.
His eyes left the Lupines after a few seconds and he found himself studying the paw prints of the pair that came before him. His paw/hands smashed through the old prints of the once living young Lupine, further erasing the evidence of its existence and causing him to wonder if the same fate awaited him.
It couldn't. He wouldn't let it.
***
His steeled resolve was put to the test shortly after as him and Jack halted to a stop. They had arrived.
The snow around him melted down a layer to the brown and dead grassy ground beneath. The smell of blood rose from the patch and fed him the image of the Primal Reaper slamming its scythe through the newly changed in a flash. The memory of the weapon and it's searing hot Runes sent a shiver down his spine.
That shiver that rippled through him climbed in intensity as the eerie sound of sharpened bone being dragged against ice fell on his ears. Accompanied by footsteps, and incredibly deep breaths. The Primal Reapers approached.
They paced silently, too many to know an exact number. Now in much more terrifying detail than ever— he could see them much clearer. Some were huge and hulking in stature, some small, others towering in height and stick thin in build.
They paced back and forth. Drawing out Samuel's fear as his imagination spun web after web of terrifying thoughts.
Then, they stopped. No more weapons dragging, no more clawed feet tapping, no more breathing. They were casting judgement this very second.
Jack suddenly let him go, delivering a parting message to the golden Lupine before leaving him to face them alone.
"The Reapers don't like weakness. Show them who you are, show them bravery and willingness to fight. But don't challenge….unless you're me of course…hahahahh!"
***
The time after Jack's departure was torturous to put it simply.
The Primal Reapers ability to draw out times of intense fear was magnified when aimed at him. He felt like he stood in the melted snow for hours— solely focusing on not fleeing entirely.
The murky black open corridors housing the Reapers stood agape overhead like numerous mouths waiting to eat him, the smell of the snow was like a foretelling of the future— a future filled with blood. Everything around him felt like it was conveying one message directed by the Reapers.
"You….Will…..Die."
Following the morbid thought, something moved— not exactly an attack, but more of a slow advance. It could sense his submission.
Instead of making matters worse and plunging Samuel deeper into the realm of fear, it did something else. It wounded his pride, gravely.
Only minutes ago he was watching in disgust as the young Lupine placed in the same spot as him succumbed to its own fear and practically handed itself over to the Primal Reaper. Now, here he was on the verge of doing the same.
His wounded ego transformed into a form of self loathing rage that escaped his throat as a low growl.
The spectators behind him perked up in response. The Primal Reapers edged closer in the shadows, increasing the pressure by revealing more bits and pieces of themselves.
"Stop it!…..Stop!…..STOP!" Samuel roared at himself while he stomped his paw into the ground angrily, no longer caring of what watched and judged.
"I'm better than this! I'm better than them all..I'm not dying like im some weak runt, fuck that! They told me I'm special, I'm here for a reason. You nasty cannibal bastards think you can judge me!? I'm supposed to be here! You need me!" Samuel ranted, his anger reaching a flaming hot intensity that showed itself in the way more snow melted around him.
The once smoother hairs along his back rose with heat and agitation while hot purple sparks followed the trail down his spine.
The clearings silence was broken by the crackle of Samuel's flames.
The fire spread, ignoring the risen hairs on his back as he stood his ground and puffed out his chest at the Primal Reapers. Jack's words were to show willingness to fight, but don't challenge. He followed those words, making sure to show his judges what he was capable of while also keeping his eyes low and teeth bared at the floor.
"I'm supposed to be here." He said again, this time his roaring flames accentuated his thoughts and continued to melt the field.
Within the castle something moved forwards. It's feline eyes now visible as they reflected the pale white light of the snow.
The Lupines once transfixed by Samuel's fire shrunk in its presence, Samuel remained.
The Primal Reapers focused it's gaze on him for a painfully long stretch of seconds before grunting in what sounded like satisfaction. The single grunt was joined by many that turned into barks and then finally into roaring howls.
The horrifying sound gained a new level of intensity after the Vampires joined in, screaming like murderous monsters and flapping their wings with undead excitement.
The Lupines behind him joined in until the entire clearing erupted with so much noise that it shook the mountains around them and forced flocks of birds in the distance to take to the snowy skies in an attempt to escape the monstrous sound of triumph.
The sound of acceptance. Samuel wasn't going anywhere— he was needed. And he was just getting settled in.