Misunderstood Monsters

Chapter 57: Blood-Sister

Dr. Collingwood ran as fast as she could, trying her best not to trip. Ever since she got shot in the leg, she could never run like she used to.

Several SCPs had breached containment. Luckily it wasn't the hugely dangerous ones, like 682 or 106, but if it wasn't dealt with quickly enough, there still was the risk of more being released.

The floor beneath her crumbled, dropping her into a dark room.

She looked around. The room felt more humid than the rest of the facility.

A deep voice, not too different from Charlie's, rang out from the shadows.

"Who goes there? Tell me your name and your pack, stranger."

"I-I am Dr. Molly Collingwood. I-I am part of no pack."

"A Packless One, hm? Your voice seems familiar..."

Some advice Charlie had given to her several months ago flashed through her head. He'd taught everyone who would listen how to greet a 939 they didn't know, but he had taught her one extra thing.

"Molly, I consider you my Blood-Sister, so listen to me carefully."

"Blood-Sister?"

"You are my sister in all but birth. When one is Blood-Sibling to someone, they become part of the latter's pack. I have taught you the Stranger's Greeting, but now I teach you the Call for Protection, so that my pack will recognize you as my Blood-Sister. Keep these words to yourself, and teach them to no one else."

"O Execrati of my Blood-Brother's pack, hear my call for help."

The 939 seemed surprised, but his voice was calm. "So you are Charlemagne's Blood-Sister. Still, I must make sure that you are really her, and not an imposter. Come closer."

She nervously took one step towards the 939.

"Closer."

A second step.

"And closer still."

A third step.

The 939 walked up until his snout almost touched her nose and simply stood there for a few minutes. Then he turned and called to his fellows.

"It is all well. She is human." The 939 turned back to her. "Follow me and sit where I tell you to. We will protect you until the breach is dealt with."

She nodded. "Thank you."

He laughed. "It is nothing. You knew the call for protection and are Blood-Sister to Charlemagne. That was the least I could have done."

He led her to what seemed to be the middle of the cell and she sat down, cross-legged on the cold floor. The 939 went away, and another came along. This one was bigger and with a more muscular build.

It smiled. "Greetings, Molly Collingwood." The 939's voice was male.

"H-Hello? Who are you?"

"I am Braveheart, once called Parehdaar, leader of the Wardens, the ones tasked with protecting the pack and enforcing the decrees of the Council of Elders."

"Oh, so you know Charlie?"

"Yes, I was a good friend of his when we still had not shed our skins yet." Braveheart's face grew sorrowful. "But we grew apart over the years as he watched over you and as I was trained by my father to take his place. And I am ashamed to say that I was one of the ones who feared Bloodfang too much to speak out. I honestly believed that most, if not all, of the pack was against me. But I know that fear is no excuse. I am a coward, and I do not deserve my title. I say that you deserve the name of Braveheart even more than my father did!"

Dr. Collingwood shook her head. "Everyone has moments of weakness sometimes. Even I do. I actually stayed far away from Billy until I realized how nice he actually was."

"Still, you did not turn him away, like so many others likely did. The one who does not feel fear is not brave, only fearless. The one who faces the danger despite their fear is truly brave. Also, I'm a bit curious. Can you recite the Verse of Brotherhood?"

"Hides as red as blood, claws as sharp as daggers, teeth like needles, feet that make no noise, ears that can hear a spider's footsteps, and voices that weave the most beautiful songs: these are the marks of our brothers, except for the rogue and the Oathbreaker, whom we scorn," she said, with just a little bit of pride.

"Mommy!" The voice of what seemed to be a young boy turned their attention to a small 939 that was pointing in Dr. Collingwood's general direction. "Is that the nice lady?"

"Steeltalon, it's rude to point your claws at someone, remember?" The 939's mother quickly turned to her. "I'm sorry about my son, he's very curious."

"It's okay."

Another young 939 called out to a group of children. "Come on, you guys! There's nothing to worry about! She's a human, I bet that I could take her! Besides, she's lame in one leg."

"Arngar! I'm sorry, Ms. Collingwood, my son's quite brash sometimes."

"It's fine, it's fine."

Braveheart chuckled. "There are three things in this world that can never be quenched: the earth's thirst for water, the fire's hunger for fuel, and the curiosity of a young mind."

Dr. Collingwood stared after the young 939s fondly. "Weren't we all like that once?"

*The Verse of Brotherhood is inspired by the Hunting Verse in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.