Mid-December Howls and Yowls and Growls, Shapeshifter Lovers.
Happy Howlidays to All from Wolf Peak Territory.
So, I began this long flash scene a couple of weeks ago, having half-dreamed the beginning as I awakened. It turned out to be quite the project--with the usual-tedious life interruptions. But then, I adore my fictional world, and only wish I could finish one of the WIPs for epublishing.
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This flash scene takes place during the week of Thanksgiving in Wolf Peak Territory. Celebrations continue in the three towns of Moonrise Lake, Green Buffalo, and Sunrise Prairie—and, of course, inside the Interspecies Pleasure Club, the enormous subterranean complex.
There are ongoing family get-togethers, both festive and sacred community banquets, friends enjoying the warm and loving company of their friends. Inside the Pleasure Club, the wide variety of pubs, of eateries and nightclubs, including Dante's Midnight Stardust Supperclub, offer splendiforous entertainments. The most popular is *dancing the night way* romance.
However, most of all an attitude of gratitude reigns throughout the greater Peak community.
As well, planning for the Winter Solstice celebration is underway.
~~~~~~
The Battle Is Joined In Wolf Peak Territory
Once Dante stood, silence descended over the immense Hall. Having gained the attention of everyone present, the alpha wolf-shifter leader roamed his gaze over the momentous gathering, the first of its kind in the Peak. Affection and respect shone in his eyes as if they'd been lit by the night's full moon.
Remnants of their mostly traditional, hearty Thanksgiving feast covered ten, large wood-plank tables. All appetites had been served—carnivorous, vegetarian, vegan, supernatural delicacies—examples being the fae and ET communities.
The fantasy Medieval Hall had recently been constructed in an underground wing of the Pleasure Club. During a sacred-fire conference in midsummer, Dante and his precious mate, Kitty, along with the Guardian Teams, had chosen this Camelot Arthurian atmosphere to 'heart and soul' connect with each other. To make merry with each other.
"Ladies, Lords, Knights, and Sovereigns of Greater Wolf Peak Territory," Dante intoned. "On this howl-honored night of the Full Beaver Moon, we come together to speak the most noble of truths. Thus, to plan for the benefit of All."
"Hear, hear," and other words of approval echoed throughout the Hall.
"We are here. The final battle." Dante reached for Kitty's hand. "As you know, we stand on the precipice of an epic worldwide conflict. The war between Good and evil culminates in the Heavens, and now accelerates here on planet Earth."
Dante swept his arm over everyone. "Beyond what we have already battled, the battles we have won and are winning--this cosmic war arrives. On the cathedral that is our beloved land. Here in Wolf Peak."
"As you are aware, the forecasts and spiritual guidance of our amazing Shamans, and our beloved Circle of Witches, has kept us prepared." Dante gave a reverent nod toward the tables where they sat. "With this advantage we are able to prepare for any enemy attack."
Dante acknowledged another group of tables. "Of course you also know, we have kept our super-tech, and our own loyal AI system, watching, learning, listening, infiltrating every enemy-monstrous cabal--all those who attempt to destroy us."
Kitty stood, joining Dante. Their hands remained lovingly clasped. "Eyes on the skies, my Peak friends. I promise every minute of every day the evil warships are being monitored." Dante drew in a long breath, casting a solemn gaze over his most trusted warriors and advisors.
"I must report the terrible and expected invasion has finally begun. The sinister arrival of those who would genocide us, steal our very souls. Those who would then rape and viciously plunder our Mother Earth. They have landed, a massive fleet."
Murmurs of Knowing, of agreement moved, an unstoppable tidal wave around Dante and Kitty. Truth reigned.
"These endtimes demand our wisdom, our decisive action. Let us be a council for each other on this Sacred Moon night." Dante waved his arm in a grand inclusive gesture.
"As we all realize, the Jupiter Saturn conjunction on the magickal Winter Solstice, on December 21, 2020--this is the grand celestial activation. We stand before the Aquarian Age. We stand on the majestic precipice of the Golden Renaissance. We own the Divine Right to create an evolution-revolution for All on planet Earth. To stand tall and proud with the Universal Awakened Ones."
"Yes. Aye," rippled, chorused, the resolve ferocious, obvious.
Dante pumped his fist high. "The time is here. Awaken the beast that cannot be caged."
Fueled by their inner beasts, ferocious shouts of agreement erupted shaking the Hall.
"To earn this future," Dante kept his fist raised. "if our shifter-supernatural and human community is to continue surviving, continue thriving we must fight a *Bigger, Badder, Fiercer* battle against every menacing, maniacal dictatorship."
Kitty stepped forward, shooting her fist into the air. "We must win this Golden Renaissance future. We must slay every form of tyranny for the sake of our families, and our loved ones. As never before we must fight. We must win the future of Earth for the sake of all sentient beings, all good souls."
"Truer words were never spoken," Big D, the immortal rancher, bellowed in his dominant, but calm voice. "Just like you take off a muscle car's governor, take off your own governor."
"The battle is joined," Dante proclaimed, his tone savage determination.
"The battle is joined!" The chant resonated, thunderous, fierce—and for quite a long while.
"Council," Dante yelled, his tone somber. He led the way to the Gathering Circle, a huge area near the Hall's ten-foot blazing hearth.
The enormous chimney had been hidden in a natural rock outcropping where the winds ceaselessly swirled. Even so, there were patrols and tech surveillance on the watch for any manner of foul play.
"How goes our Border Outreach?" Dante directed his question to Farzagio, one of his Ratto Warriors. Part of an elite contingent, the shifter and his 'rat pack' worked with Big D establishing food supply lines outside of the Peak.
"Most excellent, Alpha Wolf Man. We are reaching out to more communities. The network grows, so to speak, as do the greenhouses. Yesterday, we triumphantly chased away a police enforcement unit. They attempted to close down the town's stores and restaurants. We put the paranormal fear into them. Very enjoyable, if I may say so."
Dante slapped Farzagio on the back. "Good, good."
As Gypsy Red Wolf approached, Dante opened his arms. He gave the wolf-shifter Seeress a big hug. The first of her kind in the Peak, Gypsy headed their Circle of Witches.
"All's not quiet on the borders, but contained," Gypsy drily quipped. She favored Dante with one of her brilliant smiles, one many men would fight a Berserker horde for. "We've been following the fleet of reptilian warships, psi-observing as they disperse across the planet. This most current invasion is massive but being challenged by several Earth-based space fleets, and of course, the Pleiadian starships."
"Earth's breakaway societies, their space battalions," Dante clarified as he strode toward their Council Gathering.
Briefly meeting his gaze, Gypsy nodded. "We're psi-guiding our Wolf Peak Space Force..."
"No action required yet, boss wolf man." Blade Runner interrupted, joining them. "Got your warning message. Our Space Force fleet is tip-top, humming with power. We're ready to celestial-rumble with those borg-reptiles."
"Yeah? I'm impressed," Dante playfully tugged on the ET rabbit-man's long ear. "What's up, doc? Are we keeping you in enough carrots?"
"Rolling in carrots, boss man." Blade Runner grinned, then gripped the fancy hilt of his sword. "Still victorious in the competition ring. My silver-flashing rapier can't be beat."
"I always bet on you, bunny man." Sherilyn flirtatiously tweaked his furry cheek.
"She does." Zance, a timber wolf shifter, arm-lassoed his human mate's waist, even as his pardner, Dontoya, a black cougar shifter, claimed Sherilyn's shoulders.
"That was one heckuva Cowboy Thanksgiving shindig," Blade Runner twanged, imitating the old Western movie star, Hopalong Cassidy.
"Dang right." Big D clapped the rabbit man on his shoulder, engulfing it. "You could use more dancin' lessons, though."
Blade Runner twitched his tall ears, both amused and irritated.
"Yep, gotta agree, Space Commander Rabbit. You need dancin' lessons," Droy drawled. The mountain lion shifter, an expert rifleman, hugged his woman close. Dakota, his wolf shifter partner, lifted their mate's hand, giving Shendy a kiss on her palm.
"Shendy, my Atlantean Priestess." Dante halted among the large Gathering. Pivoting, he summoned her closer. "What say you about these world-conquering reptiles?"
"Light-phase weapons are most effective, Dante. On ship and also during a ground engagement. I have the holographic designs for those weapons memorized. I will project them on screen whenever your technicians wish."
Dante gave a nod of thanks. As Kitty moved beside him, he twined their arms. "Talbot-tardia," she began. "So sad, the problems only increase despite our constant attempts to assist those who are worthy."
"Yes, your words are true, Kitty." Wild Howling Moon spoke as she moved toward them. "Vetting those who want to escape into Wolf Peak has become a great challenge. Big D has increased our team. He also recruited a larger team to rescue, to encourage the good folks in Montana--and throughout the world to relocate here."
"Music to my ears!" Kitty hugged the warrioress shaman, a wolfen shifter of Sioux heritage. They'd become fast friends.
"Razor," Dante hailed the brawny biker who had his arm wrapped tightly around Khryssa, the elfin-human woman he adored.
Despite his huge stature, the razorback boar shifter pivoted on a dime. "Boss wolf. Yeah, we got our Freedom Rebel network onboard. Dang clear across the country, coast to coast. They're doin' the TOYS FOR TOTS thing. And findin' the families who need help for the holidays."
"Zeth," Razor boomed across the Hall. "Tell Boss Wolf what you got planned with those flyin' reindeers of yours."
With his lanky stride, Zeth, a reindeer shifter himself, approached Dante. He'd tucked his adorable new wife beneath one long lean arm. The petite woman had a special gift for connecting humans and animals, as she'd discovered after arriving in Moonrise Lake last Christmas season.
"Yep, Boss Wolf. Me and my reindeer team will be assisting Santa Claws, delivering to families who are in need of a Merry Christmas. The Dragons have volunteered to make flights with us, too. Keina, our Pegasus gal, has her flight squad preparin' to leave holiday packages. And Kalindi, with her Angel half-breed friends, will be flyin' the night skies, poppin' in homes to place presents beneath the tree."
"Stellar work," Dante growled. His gaze positively sparkly with inner joy.
Kitty beamed beside him. "Oh, yes, yes. Everyone is making toys and filling goodie gift bags. The collection rooms are already piled high."
Catching the alpha leader's eye, White Fang, super-wolf shifter and editor of the Moonrise Daily Tribune, strolled toward his longtime ally. As usual, Pasha seductively clung to his arm.
Given White Fang's wooing persistence over the years, he and the Egyptian feline-shifter goddess had become inseparable.
"White Fang, ace crime reporter," Dante reminded. Grinning, fangs exposed, he ribbed the super-wolf with his secretive past. "What have you got for me?"
"Biker Wolf Man, I got the good news." White Fang did his own grinning. "No concern about our border patrols, about the Wolf Peak skies during Zeth's holiday deliveries. As you requested, my Super Alliance Guardians will be doing double-watch duty. So will our Werewolf squads."
"That is good news. Takes the weight off my shoulders, Super Wolf Man. Thanks." They bumped fists.
"Thank you, White Fang." Sincerity sweetened Kitty's voice. She and Pasha affectionately greeted each other. Moving a short distance away, they engaged in girl chitchat.
"Talbot-tardia, anything percolating?" Dante quietly asked, his gaze hooded. "Earlier today I gotta a bad snarly feeling. Kitty did too."
"I didn't get the full report from my on-ground operative yet. He just returned tonight, in time for our Gathering. What I do know, yesterday two state-government types raised high holy hell with our former 'unbeloved' Mayor."
"Cracked Filbert Gilbert," Dante growly interjected. His hands transformed to wolf for moments.
"The bad guys twisted, no, change that. Let's say pretzeled his bushy squirrel tail." White Fang turned motioning to Rooster Cogburn, as the rooster shifter liked to be called. New to the Wolf Peak community, and therefore unknown in Talbot-tardia, he'd been able to infiltrate the were-squirrel's inner circle.
The mayor, bitter to his core that he'd lost much of the population in the original Montana shapeshifter town some five years ago...he, and his cohorts, launched many a ruinous scheme. They also waged attack after attack against Wolf Peak—even collaborating, at times, with the Ophylus. Odd bedfellows, given the tentacles-everywhere, secret cabal plotted to destroy every shifter on the planet.
"Rooster Cogburn." Dante extended his hand to the red-haired man. He'd cock-of-the-walk strutted toward them. "Good to meet you. Welcome to Wolf Peak."
"Alpha Wolf Man, privileged to meet you, to finally be here. I'll cut to the big chase." He glanced at White Fang, who gave the nod.
"Quite the crazy and crazed scene in the mayor's office," Rooster shook his coxcomb-like hair for emphasis. "Loud shouting, the mafia-brutish threats I overheard. The crux of the matter, though, Mayor Nutso was accused of hoarding, then hiding a large portion of the stimulus monies awarded to the town by the state welfare department."
Raising his dark brows, White Fang drily remarked, "No 'Great Caesar's Ghost' surprise there."
"Super Man comics?"
Rooster's quizzical expression amused Dante, and he rumbled a laugh. "White Fang is a devoted fan. Anything else?"
"Bigtime info, Alpha Wolf Man. Came out during the squirrelly whimpers, the ear-painful whining. Truth is, the mayor is following orders from some darkstate entity he didn't identify. He's using the monies to fund a black-ops infiltration." Rooster paused dramatically. "I tell you, it was eery. Once Mayor Nutso agreed to write down whatever, and showed the state-gov guys...nothing but silence."
Dante rubbed his chin, musing. "That is bigtime, Rooster. Excellent work."
"You bet. When it comes to Wolf Peak consider me a rooster with his tail on fire." Respectfully bobbing his head, Rooster Cogburn then departed.
"Number fifteen in the black-ops category. Right, Biker Wolf Man?" White Fang presented his arm as Pasha returned to his side.
"My super man," she sexily purred.
"Number fifteen, that's my count," Dante affirmed, after Kitty kissed his cheek.
"Saxia has arrived with her niece," Kitty informed, her tone serious. "She has requested to speak with you about an urgent situation."
"Of course." Even as he spoke, Dante directed his gaze toward the beautiful Hyperborean warrioress. Originally from an innerworld realm, she'd made her home in one of the Peak's larger forests.
Saxia approached, her hands on the shoulders of a teenage girl who strongly resembled her. Two enormous white wolves, flanked them. They'd been Saxia's Protectors since her birth.
"I greet you," Dante spoke in the manner of the Nordic woman's ancient people. Only a remnant population had survived the catastrophic forces eras ago on Earth.
"I greet you, Leader Dante. This is my niece, Laurexia. When leaving the travel tunnel yesterday, she encountered our enemies."
Dante lowered himself onto one knee. "What happened, Laurexia? Please tell me."
"Orphans," she timidly blurted out. Her lovely blue eyes widened. "Mind control as you call it here, I believe."
Arching a brow, Dante gently inquired, "Mind control?"
She drew in a long breath. "I was curious...and, and disobeyed." Laurexia brought in another sustaining breath. "My Wolves were with me...I decided to explore the place of giant boulders once I was outside of our travel tunnel."
"Beyond our Wolf Peak border?" The young woman's deep distress swamped Dante.
"Yes, beyond the border. Only for a little while. I know I shouldn't have..." Laurexia raised her hand. "May I connect with you? Show you in images what I observed and heard?"
Dante glanced up at Saxia. At her nod of approval, he smiled encouragingly. "Yes, go ahead, Laurexia."
She placed her palm on his temple, a feather's touch. The scene instantly unfolded.
He watched Laurexia swiftly hide between a pair of mammoth-sized boulders. She half buried herself in the deep snow. At the same time, her two Hyperborean wolves protectively curled around her. Their white coats concealed her presence from the squad of ten men she'd stumbled upon, and eluded.
Howl-alert, they were Ophylus operatives. Dante smelled their singular foul odor through the young woman's psi-abilities.
"The shapeshifter orphans are prepared, programmed to our will." The squad commander spoke. "We are tasked with positioning these poor pathetic little orphans," his tone mocked, "near the Wolf Peak border, as if they fled from Talbot Peak."
"We completely own their freak-deformed minds?" Doubt edged the man's tone.
"Advanced technological methods were discovered. Tested extensively," the commander answered. His voice was ruthless authority. "We will be able to use these mind-altered monsters as our spies. When decided, the Supreme Commanders are able to activate their assassins' training."
"The destruction of that hell-damned Dante, and his Wolf Peak. I can't wait to see his severed fucking head on a pike." The words faded as the squad moved away to accomplish their nefarious mission.
Dante disconnected, opening his eyes. "Thank you, Laurexia." He tenderly enfolded her hands within his. "That is invaluable to us. But you must be careful, and obey the wisdom of your Aunt Saxia, your elders."
"Yes, I know. I will, Leader Dante. I promise."
"Good, Laurexia."
"You will excuse me, Dante."
"What is it, Pasha?"
"I naturally tuned into your connection with Laurexia. As I was trained in the ancient temple. There is no need for concern. Once you have isolated these orphans in the containment quarters, I will be able to dissolve this mind matrix they are trapped within."
Relief sang through Dante, grateful howls. "My beloved Pasha, you are always excused. While I speak with Saxia, will you and White Fang inform Big D about the orphan situation?"
"Sure thing, Wolf Man Leader." White Fang winked. "Big D is straight-up aces, how he's taken charge of guarding the Talbot-tardia border."
Dante grinned. "Straight-up aces. Yep."
Turning, Dante invited, "Saxia, a word." Well aware of that her protector wolves eyed him, he made an inclusive gesture. "Are you doing well?"
"Yes, Dante, all is well." After moving to him, Saxia companionably placed her hands on top of the wolves huge, snow-white heads. "There are no enemy intruders in the forest around my home, as I have daily reported. And the new snowfall is pleasing."
"Wolf Peak is fortunate to have you, Saxia. Is Zholdyr proving to be helpful?"
She smiled, her eyes dancing with beautiful sparkles. "He makes certain I am taken care of, always. As you know, we often work together. His shaman-healing force is strong."
"Saxia." Kitty embraced Dante's arm with hers. "Are you and Zholdyr participating in our celebration of Winter Solstice 2020? The sacred Grand Conjunction?"
"Yes, we would not miss it." Saxia brightened as if golden sunlight shone on her. "Zholdyr and I will be welcoming the magickal and potent conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, the arrival of the Aquarian Age with you. With All in Wolf Peak Territory--as you are planning."
"Yes, everyone prepares for the Winter Solstice." Radiant, smiling, Kitty took hold of Saxia's hand. "I am so glad you here, my spiritual sister."
