Sharp As A Tiger, Quick as a Dragon [PERMANENTLY UNCOMPLETED]

Chapter 26 (Second Version)

Author's Note:
Hey all! This a second version of the previous chapter that I wrote. It starts after the part where Tom defends Cynthia in the cave and asks Lycaon who he was.
Comment and tell me which version you like better! :D

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"Who am I?" the man replied back acting astonished "Who am I?! I am Lycaon! The First Werewolf, the one who was banished from his homeland, the one who traveled this entire world spreading pure chaos before retiring to this magnificent place, the one who tricked a foolish prince and was given the entire kingdom as his prize. That is all me. I'm humbly at your service, my dear Sir," the man introduced himself, with a mocking bow towards Tom. At the mention of the foolish prince, Boetius growled lightly as if it was an unpleasant memory.
"As to what I want that can be explained by what you want," he ended sinisterly, staring right into the depths of my soul with his creepy wide eyes. I squirmed a little, uncomfortable under his judging stare. Seeing this, he smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief and went on.
"You, if I am correct, want this pretty thing right here, am I right?" Lycaon said with an air of superciliousness as he looked at the head of his staff which he had held in his hand. The head was actually not a head. Instead, it was a hand. A hand who's fingers were loose but tight at the same time. The kind of hand position that wizards make when doing magic without a wand but using their own hands. It had a very magical feel to it, but also one with power. It was a coal black, and looked burnt and bruised like it was misused. It was connected to a staff that was pitch black as well and painted with strange symbols in white paint . Lycaon was holding it the entire time while he was in this cave, I just didn't pay attention to it much because I was too focused on his appearance.
"Haha, oh who am I kidding?" Lycaon replied to his own question with a cynical laugh. My eyes snapped up from where they were fixed on the hand to meet Lycaon's eyes. "I am always right." Lycaon finished creeping closer to me, until he got right up into my face. He bent over and stared right into my eyes, his face blank and menacing, and his eyes examining every inch of my face. I pressed my body flat up against the wall, trying to make space between me and him. Seeing how uncomfortable he made me, his mouth twisted into a smirk. Then he straightened up, and continued to kindly inform us. I watched the entire time, never failing to take my eyes off of him, afraid that the moment I do, he'll pull some kind of trick on me.
"This, Miss Cynthia and Company," he continued addressing the hand on top of the staff, " is the third hand of Evendra." He began to pace as slowly as he talked, around the cave, with his back facing us.
"It is also the most powerful one," he said. Then he stopped pacing, and looked back. "Follow me?" He asked. We could only nod.
"Years ago, I - hmm, how do you put it - borrowed it and I just never found the time to give it back. I used its power to swipe this kingdom right under their disgustingly jolly emperor's nose. With its power I raised a whole army of werewolves just like me, cursed with the ability to turn into blood crazy wild beasts. Without it, I have no one to sympathize with me," he said stroking the hand with his body facing us "Without it, I have no one to do my bidding. Without it, I have no one to fear me." Suddenly, his head wiped around, with his eyes concentrated intensely on us. His piercing gaze and the blood thirsty look on his face startled us so much that've instinctively pushed back against the wall.
"That is why you can't have it, and that is why I must finish you. Hope you can understand," Lycaon finished sickly sweetly. Swiftly, he whirled around and strutted back out of the cave. All werewolves present in the cave bowed their heads as he passed. At the cave mouth, Lycaon stopped and called back, "Boetius." Boetius raised his head slightly towards the cave entrance.
"Yes Alpha," he replied back his head still slightly bowed as if he doesn't deserve to look at Lycaon's face.
"Kill them off," Lycaon stated simply before walking out as turning right. My eyes never left him. I continued to watch the cave entrance even after he left, still processing what just happened. After he left, everyone else began filing out. Soon, only me, Tom, Yedana, and Boetius was left. My eyes then switched to Boetius who was walking towards us, looking quite uncomfortable. For some reason, I had a feeling that he was trying to make his mind about something. Suddenly, he raced over to Yedana's side and crouched down next to her. He took her hand into his and put it on his heart.
"Stay with me Yedana," he said looking into her eyes.
"What?!" Yedana asked, suddenly snapped out of her state of shock.
"Stay with me," Boetius repeated "Wr can live happily ever after here. I can convince Lycaon to keep you alive. Your friends will have to go, but you didn't do anything to anger him, in fact it seems that you amused her instead. That why, you don't have to die, and you can live with me. And we can get married, get a house, and have some kids, just like how you wanted!"
Yedana remained quiet. Tom and I watched Yedana's face. We expected emotions to be warring on her face, but Yedana kept a straight face the entire time. Not a single inkling was given of the storm of emotions that swirled inside of her. We could feel the fearful anticipation in the air. The room seemed to be filled with it.
"Well?" asked Boetius after a while.
"No," stated Yedana simply.
"W-what?!" asked Boetius, taken aback.
"No, I will not stay with you," replied Yedana calmly.
"W-why not?!" asked Boetius quite shocked.
"Because I'm not a HEARTLESS, FILTHY, SCUMBAG TRAITOR LIKE YOU! I actually CARE about MY LOVED ONES and I will never, EVER BETRAY THEM!" Yedana screamed back, suddenly unable to hold all her emotions back. Boetius looked at her shocked. Then he let go of her hand, and stood up, looking down at Yedana as his face twisted into a sneer.
"You little-" and he let out a slur of colorful words describing Yedana, each one worse than the one before it. My heart broke when I saw silent tears rolling down my sister's face. I was astonished at how she just stood there as he continued to bombard her with foul words. Emotions stirred inside of me, emotions which I always try to keep under control.
"I don't know what I was thinking when I asked you to stay with me. You're good for nothing! I'm GLAD I betrayed you!" Boetius finished. Silence followed, while his words rang through the empty room. An emotion which I identified as anger rose up in me. How dare this manic talk to my sister like that! How dare this scumbag break my sister down to her breaking point! How dare this-this-this filthy beast call my sister, my talented sister good for nothing! Without knowing, I began to transform. My bones cracked as the shifted into position. My hair grew rapidly, engulfing my entire body. My vision wavered as it became sharper. My canines grew out. My nose, hands, and feet changed shape. A tail stretched out from my tailbone. Boetius's eyes bulged out of his face. I growled into his direction, and lunged. I lunged over a ducking Yedana, and landed on top of Boetius, successfully knocking him out. I snatched Tom and Yedana by the collar with my mouth, and tossed them onto my back. I raced out of that cave and turned right. I let my nose guide me to my next destination, all the while surprised wolves ducked out of the way. I slammed into a door at the end of the hallway, breaking through into the room. There standing in front of a glass-less window was Lycaon. He whirled around and gaped at me shocked. I didn't wait for him to process what was happening. I lunged at him knocking him into the wall. His rolled to the back of his head. With one of my claws, I slashed across his face, giving him a scar that matched Boetius's. 'Next time you decide to ruin people's lives, remember me.' And with that thought, I snapped the hand of Evendra from his staff, and breaking his staff into a billion unfixable pieces and scattered them out the window. I threw the hand back, where Tom caught it skillfully. I then raced out of the room and jumped off the ledge of the mountain. I hit the forest floor running, forcing every aching sinew in my tiger body to run faster. I feel my tired body starting to waver, but I don't let myself slow down, afraid of what will happen if I do. All the while, I refuse to let my eyes wander and look behind me. I keep my eyes and my face facing front, and urge my entire body forward. Hoping to never again return to the wretched place.