Bred For Extinction

A Glimpse of Silver

The gypsy caravan that settled on the edge of the town showed its presence through its small campfires blazing in the night. Trucks, trailers, and rag-tag wagons formed circles around the fires as the caravan's inhabitants gathered to chatter in the glow of the burning embers. Their eyes flickering to one another's and then back to the flames that illuminated the scene. Whispers, songs, and even laughter drifted loudly through the night's air as they spent the late night hours in each other's company. Their long, flowing, renaissance clothing seemed lighter than air as they took advantage of the night's beauty. They had found their way here much for the same reason they had visited so many other towns.... to show off their wares, exhibit their gifts while performing their skills for the townsfolk in order to gain the money to simply live and move on to the next town .........and to hunt.

Their leader was not difficult to discern from the rest. His wardrobe showed off his taste in calico prints. Long, white streaked hair drifted back over his shoulders as he sat, watching his troop of vagabonds dance, sing, and play in the glow of the bonfires. Weathered features showed his age as the men that gathered about him showed off his power and authority. His frame, though still strong, showed the wear of hard years on his bones as eyes watched his people with love. His voice, soft, concerning as he spoke to himself, "Ah, such a night, such happiness, such bliss to see my family so happy as they dance." The old man simply watched enraptured in his followers' joy.

Yet, the night takes a turn. The four men that approach the campsite show worried fretfulness in their steps. Quickly do they make their way to the elder one, eyes franticly glancing in all directions that their steps have covered. "Rowane, I have need to speak with you...privately," The lead's voice showing great concern as he speaks. He turns to the other three following him and waving his hand pushes them away before one finger moves to his lips to remind them of his wish for their silence.

Rowane stands, bones slightly cracking as he lifts his aged frame from the seat that he occupies. "Very well, Cadell, but from your features perhaps this is something I care not to hear?"

"No, you wish to hear this," Cadell's face a puzzle of concern.

"Very well, come, to my trailer then," The old man turns, leading the way as Cadell steps quickly behind him.

The trailer, dark at first, until calloused fingers strike a match lighting the interior. Cadell's eyes peer about at the walls lined with copious amounts of ancient leather bound books. The small table that both men take a seat at creaks under the stress of their frames. "What is it Cadell? What has you so nervous? You act as if Penduran himself attacked you this night."

Cadell's voice, rattled as he speaks, stares down hard to the table's surface, "Tonight.....Father....I have seen a thing amazing to my eyes. I still am in awe.

"Go on, Cadell," Rowane himself now interested, knowing Cadell's normally steel personality has been dented.

"Me and my men were out surveying this town, as we do with each town we come too, by your orders. Even in our short time here, we found this town is laden hard with the leech breed Father. Their scent is everywhere. We waited for a lone creature, which we may attack without incident, and then she came. She masquerading as a human prostitute, hoping to lure her victims down some dark remote alley. Surely the victim would be hoping for some earthly pleasure, while the leech knew of their final demise. We followed, staying close, yet far enough that she could not sense us, and soon did she come upon a victim. She took him quickly down a darkened street, an alley where none would hear his screams, and so we glided quickly after. We set ourselves against the alley's walls, one of us from each direction and each surface, waiting for her to begin her feeding, knowing that this would be her weakest moment...when her full attention would be upon her prey and our kill would be easy. But just as her teeth set in, she withdrew, her eyes flashing back to the alley's opening. We feared we had been found, detected, and perhaps lost out the chance at the kill...but it was not us..."

Rowane's eyes shrink to mere splinters as he listens, fingers rubbing his ruddy cheeks, wondering where all this is going.

"No...the enchantress drew back, and the look in her eyes showed a fear that one could tell she had never experienced before. It was so silent at first...nothing moved as we all watched and waited. And then it came...such fury...the very air seemed to explode as it struck with such force that she was but a leaf in its wind, tossed like a doll against the surrounding wall, her frame already limp in its grasp." Cadell's features twitching as darting digits move to wipe the moisture building on his brow. " It was huge...immense...its claws drove straight for the chest, diving deep, ribs splintering as its maw feasted immediately upon her heart. Such a sound it was...such power and quickness. She never even had a chance to raise a hand to it, so fast and deadly was its force," Cadell's eyes slowly raise to the old man's vision as he speaks.

"You have yet to tell me what it was, or what you think it was?" Rowane's words come inquiring for a theory.

"It was one of us...one of our breed...yet never have I seen one of such size ...such power...such color"

"Color you say? What was its color Cadell?" the old gypsy's voice jumps along with his heartbeat at this new information.

"Silver...hair as silver as the moon itself, eyes also, they glowed so strangely...silver orbs that glared about after it had finished its meal. I have never experienced anything like this in all my years with you. It was beyond haunting."

Rowane's eyes wide now, with a seeming knowing as lips smile partway as if he is somewhere else, then his mind bringing his daze back to the questioning, " And the beast...where did it go? You did follow it, yes?"

Cadell's face changes, shocked with the question, "Follow it...are you mad? Did you hear what I said...my God, it was devastating. I want no part of that...that thing. As quickly as it all started, it was over ...and it fled, which was the best part of my night. I care not if I ever see its silver hide again in the rest of my eternity."

"But Cadell," the old man's voice turns serious, "you must see it again...in fact you must find it and bring it here to us. Imagine a wolf of such power , such fury....imagine the advantage that would give us should he be fighting at our side." Rowane's head twists slightly as his eyes flow to the many leather-bound books that make up his walls. "You have always seen these books, yet you have never examined one. They tell history, legends...some have been collected on our hunts from the deepest pits of the vampire's abodes, while others have been pasted down from our own fathers. There have always been rumors of great wolves Cadell. They are Great wolves of colors different than our normal brown coats.... stronger, powerful...almost mythical. For us, our generation, that is all they have ever been...myths...not seen, not heard. If this is truly one of those Great wolves you witnessed tonight, then the legends are possibly true. Do you see? What hope this would bring for our people. Perhaps the battle would not seem so bleak. You are my best Cadell, I would only ask this of you. You must find this wolf"

Shocked, Cadell's actions are jittery as he searches for a way out, "Even if I found the beast again, how ...tell me how I could possible bring it here."

The elder's hand slowly reaches for Cadell's shoulder, resting there with a calming grip, "You must find the human inside, who knows how long he has existed out of our eye's reach. This is the first sighting ever to my knowledge. Even I thought the myths were just that....legends and stories to help us fight on and have courage against the demonic hordes. Go, Cadell, and at least locate him so I may go and bring him to his people...and then let the vampires sleep with one eye open.

The two men's eyes lock, and Cadell knows that his only answer can be the slow nod that he now gives to Rowane in acceptance. And for the first time he wonders if his next hunt will be his last.