Chapter 17.5 A New Life: Dream

Denali walks into the military base with Eliana and a bag on both of their backs. Calian walks up behind them with Tenari, Akari and Anari. Tatiana shows up with a smile on her face. "Ready to go?"

"You sure this is a good idea Tat?"

"We'll be right behind you. First we'll take you to our place, get you familiar with the place. Take you around. Then we get you your own place and you get started. We gotta keep you away from that bitch. You know she won't stop looking.

"Yeah I know I know…"

Eliana walks up and kisses his cheek. "Don't worry, you have us." She smiles.

He nods with a smile and opens the truck door for them.

A figure with a dark purple hood is seen hidden in the trees.

The truck drives off with a bunch more.

The figure jumps down and rolls underneath one latching on underneath.

Eliana looks at Denali and smiles rubbing his hand.

Denali kisses her hand and lays his head back.

- Airport -

Denali looks around the airport noticing all the people crowding around them. Calian, Eliana, Akari, Anari and Tenari join him in their new sights.

Tatiana looks at them. "Weird huh?"

Denali blinks and watches people go through the metal detectors, taking their shoes off, putting their items in the boxes and their luggage.

"What is that for?" He looks at her.

"That is to make sure travelers don't have any drugs or weapons or anything that is prohibited at the airport. No metals or anything.

She attaches a tag to each of their bags. "This is to make sure we know who's bag is who's. Any small bags or carry on's we take with us on the plane." She looks at Calian and Denali. "No violence please, especially you Calian."

Calian blinks. "What could I possibly do?"

"They get a little touchy and I don't want you breaking anyones arm or leg or neck snapping."

"Well they shouldn't get touchy"

"It's their job. Luckily you two don't wear any jewelry or metals so you're fine."

Everyone makes there way through and move towards the store.

"Anybody want anything?"

Damien looks at them.

"Oooh is that a pillow?!" Anari runs into the store with Akari"

Tatiana stares at Damien before walking in the store.

Akari grabs a candy bar and starts to open it.

"Ah ah ah, not yet guys we have to pay for it then you can have it."

"Awwwww, that's dumb" Anari folds her arms.

Akari looks at Tenari, "Heyyy how come mama is doing it? He points at Tenari who is eating a Snickers bar. "Aren't we buying it anyway?"

Damien pays for the snacks and pillows before going to their plane.

Tatiana holds out pieces of gum to everyone.

Denali sniffs it. "What's this for?"

"On the plane when we go up, your ears pop so this is to stop that."

The twins put their hands on their ears with wide eyes.

Tatiana chuckles. "Not pop off, they hurt inside and you guys don't want to feel that in your first flight.

The kids take the gun quickly and chew it.

"It's chewy"

"Yeah don't swallow it."

Akari blinks.

Tatiana laughs handing him another piece.

Calian holds his hand out as well.

Denali laughs at Eliana holding hers out as well.

She pouts and hits his arm. "You've had gum before?"

"Yeah at the base. I went through the same thing, don't worry, it'll come out in seven years."

"Seven years?!" The twins look up at him.

Tatiana punches his arm and chuckles. "He's kidding. That's a myth, it'll come out when you use the bathroom."

Akari holds one finger up and then two on his other hand.

Tatiana puts up two fingers.

Akari and Anari nod. "Whew…"

Everyone gets on the plane and head to their seats. Denali helps out bags in the overhead compartment with Damien before sitting with Eliana.

A woman with a scar over her right eye comes out in a stewardess uniform as everyone is settled.

"Welcome aboard this flight to New York City ladies and gentlemen. My name is Scarlett I will be your service director for this trip. Please fasten your seatbelts and keep seated while the "Fasten your seatbelt" sign is lit at all times. The use of all radio transmitting devices is banned at all times as they can interfere with the aircraft instruments. All portable electronic devices such as walkman's, computers, calculators, must be turned off during take off & landing and cell-phones must not be used at any time. Restrooms are located in the back. Please let us know if there is anything you need to make your flight more enjoyable.

Ladies & Gentlemen! The safety instruction card is in the pocket of the seat in front of you. Please read it. It shows you the equipment carried on this aircraft for your safety.

A life jacket is in the pocket under your seat. To put it on, place it over your head. Clip on the waistband and pull it tight. Please do not inflate it while you are still inside the aircraft. An evacuation slide and life raft is at each door. Your crew will direct you to your door. Additional emergency exits are shown on the leaflet.

In case of emergency, oxygen masks will drop down in front of you. Please pull the mask down toward your face and place the mask over your mouth and nose. If you are traveling with a child, please attend to yourself first, then the child. Breathe normally, adjust the headband to suit yourself.

As the sign flashes Denali looks at his seat belt and struggles to put it on."

Eliana helps him and giggles. "Need some help sweetheart?"

Denali glares at her

"Haha"

She laughs tightening it. "There".

"….Thank you"

Tatiana smiles at them while Calian groans in disgust.

Akari and Anari eat their snacks while Tenari falls asleep immediately.

Damien looks at her as she leans on his shoulder.

Tatiana gives Tia her juice kissing her head. "All good?"

Tia nods and smiles.

The plane starts to move and everyone grabs each other's hands. The kids chew their gum fast as well as Calian.

"No popping no popping no popping…" Akari holds his Anari's ears as she holds his.

"Oooh! I felt that" Eliana chuckles holding her ear.

Denali looks outside the window and points. "Look".

She stares in awe.

The kids look out the window as well "Wooooah".

"Ladies, and Gentlemen.

The captain has turned off the seatbelt sign, which means you can leave your seat now if you wish. However, for your own safety and the safety of others around you, you must keep your seatbelt fastened while you are seated. Should the seatbelt sign come on again during the flight, please return immediately to your seat, and for everyone's safety, you must keep your belt fastened while seated.

Should you wish to remove anything from the overhead lockers, please take care as some items may have moved during take off and could fall out on you or other passengers.

Passengers are reminded that this is a non-smoking flight, which means that smoking is not allowed anywhere in the aircraft, including the toilets which are not protected by smoke detector alarms. As a reminder, the non-smoking sign will remain illuminated throughout the trip."

-Half an Hour-

"May I have your attention, please?

The fasten seat belt sign is now off. However, we would recommend that you do keep your seat belt fastened during the entire flight.

- Hour Later -

Tenari wakes up and leans up from Damien's shoulder.

"Don't look at me like that I'm old enough to be your mother"

Damien laughs shaking his head "I didn't say it do anything Tenari I know better."

"Mmh. Good." She looks outside the window. We're so high up… it's beautiful"

"Mhm. A lot to make these things go thousands of feet in the air."

Eliana lays her head on Denali and falls asleep. Denali takes her hand and sleeps.

Akari and Anari wake up to watch Hotel Transylvania. "What's this?"

"It's a TV. You can watch movies, or tv shows or "television shows." Down where you guys live, not a lot of technology like this. Would love to bring it down but, it would ruin the way you currently live. It's destroyed our way. We depend on it so much. It's useful but it also takes away a lot.

Everyone wakes up except the kids who have been watching movies not stop.

Ladies & Gentlemen, now We're approaching New York where the local time is 09:00 PM. At this stage you should be in your seat with your seatbelt firmly, fastened. Personal television screens, and seat tables must be stowed away and all hand luggage stored either in the overhead lockers or under the seat in front. Please ensure all electronic devices including laptop computers and computer games are turned off.

Everyone gets off the plane and over to baggage claim.

The Stewardess heads off the plane from a secret exit and makes her way towards Denali and everyone else.

Denali sniffs her out and pats Tatiana.

Tatiana looks at him "What's up?"

"Trouble."

"Tsk already?! We just made it."

"She's relentless. Must've been on the flight with us."

"Well what's your plan?"

"Where are we going?"

"Not far… alright… take Tenari with you. I'm sure she can help track us down, I'll take everyone else."

Denali nods going over to Eliana.

"I heard. Go on we'll be fine." She kisses him.

Calian looks at him. "Want me for come with?"

"Yeah back me up. Stay far though."

"Got it." Calian heads out another way as Denali head out the front with Tenari.

"Trouble?"

"As always."

Scarlett jumps down on him wrapping her legs around his neck.

Denali slams her down as Tenari drops her knee down.

Scarlett frees herself moving out of the way, people fleeing the area.

"Out in the open huh?"

"Guess the queen has had enough."

Calian lays on the roof with a fresh made bow and a few metal arrows.

"Scarlett get back insid-" she stares back at a flight attendant smirking at her.

"Calian save her now please you know what to do"

Calian smirks letting the arrow go.

Scarlett catches the arrow and smirks snapping it in half stabbing the two halves into the woman's head

"Fuck not another one. Tenari get Damien. I'll be done in fifteen."

"You sure?"

"Yep."

Scarlett smirks at him and leaps down as police show up.

"Hands up now!"

She moves around quickly taking out the cops.

Denali dodges the bullets knocking the cops out while Scarlett kills them similarly to when Denali massacred the Akai.

"Remind you of anything?"

"Yeah. They deserved it though."

She tackles him and throws him into a car.

Denali gets himself out dropping to the ground.

Calian shoots at Scarlett who catches multiple arrows pulling her bow out and shooting one at Calian and the other at Denali's chest

"Gah!"

Calian gets down quickly before getting kicked off the roof.

He uses his grapple and lands next to Denali helping him up.

"She is tearing you up." He takes the arrow out.

"Aghhh shut up. I have a plan… I'm gonna hate it though so you'll have to put me out."

"You sure???!"

"Do it."

Calian goes into his satchel pulling out a glowing blue flower.

Denali sniffs it his eyes and body changing.

Scarlett smirks changing her form as well. Her form being a red fox.

Denali speeds ahead tackling her inside the airport.

She kicks him off grabbing his tail.

He grabs a machine ripping it out from the floor knocking her back out the doors.

She hits a car knocking it back and smirks. "Not bad wolfie"

Denali rips a car door off and sharpens it.

Scarlett rips a stop sign out from the ground running towards him with it. She pounces slamming it down against the car door.

Denali pushes her off and slices her cheek.

Scarlett flips back sweeping Denali from under his feet.

Calian shoots her in the back the arrow going through her body.

"I got her!" Denali calls to Calian.

"Then kill her already!" Calian aims another arrow.

Scarlett hauls the sign at Calian.

Denali leaps catching the sign and throwing Calian at her.

Calian raises his fist knocking her down.

Denali leaps and knocks her down into the ground with the sign.

Damien steps out of a car shooting him with a blue bullet catching Denali at the end.

"Get in the car kid."

Calian hops into the car throwing a knock out gas into the hole Scarlett was in.

Damien lays Denali in the back seat his body changing.

"He told you to do this?" He drives off.

"That girl… she was like him. Only weaker but stronger as well. And this new form of his… was scarier."

"Yeah well. It's a work in progress but, if he activated it now, it must've been needed."

- Inside New Home -

Damien carries Denali inside with Calian next to him.

Tatiana opens the door looking down and rushing them inside. "Bedroom now."

Damien lays Denali down in his bedroom with Eliana.

"What happened???"

"He asked me to use the flower.."

"He what?!? And you listened???"

Eliana looks at him sternly. "You know it's a work in progress and could kill him!!!"

Tatiana puts a hand on her shoulder before she rushes out the room slamming the door.

Everyone looks down. "Who was she?"

"She was like him. Only she was a fox. Strong like him too. He couldn't take her on in his human form though. That's why he asked me to bring out the blue flower."

They nod.

"Where are Tenari and the kids?"

"Asleep in the other room."

Damien pats his back.

"She'll apologize… she's just a protective girlfriend. She'll get on him too" he chuckles.

Calian nods.

Tatiana smiles kissing his head. "I'm glad you were there with him, and she is too."

They leave the room.

- An Hour Later -

Denali groans waking up to Eliana cleaning his chest wound.

"H- agh!"

Eliana frowns after punching his wound and speaks in their native language

"You're an idiot, a stupid fucking idiot. The both of you." She starts to cry. Denali leans up slowly putting his hand on her cheek. "You won't lose me."

"You don't know that."

"I do." He kisses her softly.

She kisses him back and pushes him back down. "Let me finish."

- 20 Minutes Later -

"You stay here and heal. We'll come back for you later." Eliana kisses his nose.

Denali nods and smiles.

He takes a shower and stretches wrapping a towel around his waist.

He sighs and grabs a chair tossing it up as Scarlett comes from the balcony knocking the chair away. Denali dodges her attacks and parries holding her arms behind her head. "What happened to your eye?" He kicks her into a wall.

"What happened to your chest?"

He nods grabbing a sword slicing a piece of her hair off. "I'm guessing the queen sent you and made you a deal. What is it dad in jail? Lost mother?"

He says all this while parrying her attacks which get angrier and angrier. "Oooh someone's angry. I'm getting closer aren't I?"

He trips her holding the sword at her neck as she hold two knives to his groin. "My brothers."

"Ding ding ding." He grabs her wrists with his legs and fractures them before she cuts his leg.

She yells in pain.

She kicks the blades off the wall stabbing him in the back.

"Nngh! You fucker…"

She smirks though she is in pain.

"How old?"

"Sixteen"

"That's when your training started?"

"That's when she took them. I've fought you before. That's how I got this eye."

He tilts his head at her.

"At the base. You threw a knife at my eye."

"Heh I threw knives at so many people that day you're gonna have to be more specific."

"I almost killed your sister"

He looks back and thinks. "Oh youuuu" ok I remember now. Yeahhhh." He takes a gun out and aims it at her. "Goodbye"

"Wait!!!"

"Oh God here we go. What??? "Let me live and together we can take her down, I can get my brothers, you'll have another ally on your team."

"She's extra pissed that you took Calian. He was one of the best. So am I."

He snorts.

"Obviously not, if you got your ass whooped."

"If I recall, you got your ass whooped and needed a plants help to assist you in going beast mode."

"Touché. What'd they do to you?" He goes into the bathroom to change.

"Can you fix my fucking hands?!"

"Can I get dressed or do you want to see me naked?" He leaves the room to get dressed.

She mumbles, "I already saw… not much to see…"

"What was that???"

"Nothing!"

He comes out fully dressed and leans down to her taking the knife out his back.

"Gonna stab me in the back again???"

"I might. Depending on if you break any other part of my body."

"I'd like to see you try."

Eliana stands with a gun pointed at Scarlett's head.

Denali smirks and looks over at Eliana nodding his head making her squeak with happiness.

Calian gags with Damien.

"This her?"

"Yep."

"Ahhhh you must be the girlfriend" she grins at her, "Beautiful too, I'd have you for myself if he didn't man up and take it."

She loads the gun and presses firm against her head.

"Oooh, I see I've overcome my stay." She trips Eliana and Denali flipping herself back up throwing a smoke bomb before leaping off the balcony.

Denali helps Eliana up and holds his back.

"She got you didn't she?"

"She was stalling. She'll be back"

Calian picks a note up off the floor and hands it to him. "Or you'll be meeting her."

Denali reads the note and sighs. "I need sleep."