Blue River Chronicles:

Blue River Chronicles: The Moon"s Shadow

Implacable Heart

 (Snipet: part 1)by;fernand jiro

River opened his eyes to the now familiar sight of the dimly lit stone walls and iron bars of his small cell, or perhaps calling it a cage would be more appropriate. He pulled himself off the cold stone floor and yawning widely, stretched his new limbs and shook himself wake.
            Walking to the front of his cell and looking out of the bars did not reveal much. The stone passage was as dimly lit as always. He could see the silhouette of two guards down at the other end. Ghost was in the cell to his right, he could see his white fur resting against the bars and to the left he could see the snout of another werewolf sticky out slightly; it was chewing at the bars, whining softly as it did so.
            It was clear that most of the other inmates were awake, as an array of noises could be heard; growling, whining, banging and the occasional howl.
            River turned around and walked to the heavy metal door at the back of his narrow cell. He leaned his ear against the cold metal and listened. He could here the announcer talking, but the crowed was too quiet for the fights to have started. River wandered if it would be his turn again tonight. He had to admit that he started to look forward to these nights; it was the only entertainment he got in this place. Well, besides being cut, poked and stuck with needles.
            They usually started the fights as early as possible, but it was impossible to tell what the time was; the whole facility was constantly lit up by the harsh florescent lights that made his eyes burn. They usually had about five fights a night, which is a large number, considering that after each fight a werewolf was dead. River had to learn fast that two Weres came into the arena and only one would leave it alive, well, sometimes neither of them did.
            Chains creaked and River jumped away from the door, thinking it was opening, but the sound came from the cell next to his. The Were that had been chewing at the bars made a huge racket as he forced his way out under the door and into the arena, to the cheering of the crowd.
            River shook his head to clear it and allowed his heart to slow down. He saw Ghost’s pale blue eye watching him through the small hole in the wall. River growled at him and started to pace his cell.
            He knew he would not be in the first fight. They usually started with a newcomer; to give the crowd a good mauling to warm them up for the night. They usually ended with their best two Weres. River knew Ghost was always one of the last to be let out of his cell. River had won a few fights but he was not sure if he would be able to win a fight with a Were that was so difficult to read like Ghost. He never seemed to show any emotions, no matter what form he was in.
            The crowed cheered and the River continued to pace. He had to warm himself up in case his fight would be next. The first fight never lasted long. He thought of his first fight and how difficult it had been to get out of there alive and what a shock it was to kill his opponent.
            Something banged into his door with a hard thud and the sounds of the fight filtered through. One Were sounded in server pain. Then they seem to move away again.
            Rivers fur stood on end, he knew what went on in there, but as he started to pace again in the opposite direction, he was becoming anxious for his turn. He had grown confident in his abilities and it was the only opportunity he had in this place to be able to move without the restrictions of small rooms and restraints, and the only opportunity he had to run, and he did a lot of that; his speed and manoeuvrability was his biggest advantage.
            He even at times forgot about wanting to escape from this place. He hardly thought about the outside world or his old life and old name. His thoughts turned more and more to nights like this and to his next opponent. He was not the timid, thin creature he had been when he first arrived here in a flurry of confusion and pain. No, he was a whole new animal now, grown sleek and muscular. The three pale marks on his back had also lost their meaning; now all it did was give his opponents a false sense of security when they faced him. Well that, and the fact that he was usually considerably smaller then them.
            The werewolves in the other cells snarled and banged into the bars, a guard was obviously on his way up. But River did not care; he was focused on the fight ahead. He wondered whom he would face next. He knew that the Were that had given him his scars was still alive.
            ‘Boar.’ Thought River. ‘I think that’s what they called him.
            The guard shone a flashlight into River’s cell, making him blink in its uncomfortable light and growl. The guard lowered the light, and River recognised him as Gunny.
            ‘Hi River, you seem on edge.’ Said Gunny, placing his hand on the bars of the cell.
            ‘Stupid boy.’ Thought River, Gunny obviously had not learnt his lesson. River could easily spring up and bite off his hand. It felt tempting.
            A cheer rang out from behind the door and the announcer started to commentate loudly. The fight had obviously ended. River listened intently with pricked ears; it would take a few minutes to clear the arena before the next Weres would be let in.
            ‘You seem very keen on fighting tonight.’ Gunny said.
            ‘Well obviously.’ River thought, still listening to the sounds form the other side of the door. ‘ It’s the only entertainment I get in this place, if one doesn’t include me being cut open while I’m still conscious enough to watch’
            ‘You’ve changed a lot since you first came here. I don’t know if that’s such a good thing.’
            River could feel himself getting annoyed; the temptation of attacking Gunny was still there. He had saved Gunny’s life, but he wondered if he would do so again. He felt only hatred for the guards in here; he wished they all could get bitten and join the wolves in the cells. Than they could get a taste of their own medicine, just like what happened to Ghost.
            ‘I wonder if you think you’ll ever get out of here.’ Gunny said still leaning against the bars.
            ‘No.’ River said aloud, turning toward Gunny who looked shocked. River’s throat instantly burned and felt like he had swallowed a handful of needles.
            River closed his eyes, waiting for the intense pain to subside. When he opened them again, Gunny had gone. River felt angry with himself, he knew speaking was not something that just any werewolf could do, and besides it causing him great pain. He had to avoid speaking aloud, just like he did not want anyone in here to know he could phase at will. He was never much good at keeping a low profile, even in this place.
            The chains behind him creaked as they lifted the heavy metal door and the harsh light filtered in through the widening gap underneath.
            River turned toward the door and waited for it to lift fully before he trotted through into the arena, blinking in the sharp artificial light. He strode out with confidence, his long tail held high. He had learnt he was always let out first, as apparently it made it more suspenseful for the crowd to see a small wolf like him first before they reveal his larger opponent. River was met with some cheers form the people who had seen him fight before, but some laughed and others booed.
            ‘No matter, I’ll show you soon not to underestimate me.’ River thought as he walked around the arena. The sand felt good under his paws. Soft and warm, unlike the hard cold stone and concrete he spent everyday on. He stopped and kneaded it with his claws, enjoying the grainy sensation.
            He looked up at the stands around top of the arena's high wall. The small, noisy crowd, full of smartly dressed people sipping drinks; looking very amused. The announcer hastily, and with much enthusiasm, told them about River and his previous fights. The Boss Man, in a suit that mad him look like a penguin, sat to the announcer’s right, glaring down at River with a disgusted expression. He was probably not happy that the three scars on River’s back marred his fur; it probably reduced it value. River flashed his teeth at him.
            He started walking around the arena again, avoiding the large area of blood stained sand. He saw some regular faces, a few guards and the doctor. She was looking at him with a very worried expression. River stopped and stared directly at her. She frowned deeply and looked away.
            The announcer said something and the crowed cheered. One of the doors on the far side of the arena creaked and slid open. River stood firm as he watched as a pale brown werewolf clawed his way out under it and into the light, to a gasp form the crowd. River felt his confidence shaken as he looked at the huge Were that blinked and snarled, only a few meters away from him.
            ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Boar. Undefeated in four fights and one of the largest werewolves we have.’ The announcer said loudly.
            River could feel his ears flatten and his tail curl. He backed up a few paces. This was the Were that had marked him so many months ago and now he stood facing him. Boar was pale brown with a black strip down his back, he had small eyes, a large blunt snout and small ears that stuck our to the sides. His front limbs were huge and muscular but his hindquarters were small and sloped. He hardly had any tail.
Boar slowly turned his beady eyes toward River. He stood staring at River blankly, while River quickly backed up against the arena wall, giving himself as much space between them as he could. Boar snarled and charged, River felt fear grip him as his opponent bore down on him with alarming speed and to gasps and cheers form the crowd above.

Implacable Heart continued ...

Boar charged at full speed. River jumped aside just in time to avoid the swiping claws and sapping jaws. Boar unable to stop, plummeted into the wall, face first. River sprinted to the other side of the arena and coward against the wall again. The spectators above booed.
            Breath racing; River watched as Boar picked himself up and rounded on him again, roaring in rage.
            ‘So.' Thought River in fear. 'This is how it ends.' He was going to be killed by the very werewolf that had marked him so many months ago; the Were send by his father to remind him that he was still looking for River, that he would never be free of him.
            Boar charged again, River jumped away at the last minute agai, but this time he was not quick enough. Boar grabbed hold of River’s back leg and flung him across the arena. River flew threw the air and hit the wall of the arena hard, to more boos and cheers from the crowed.
            River lay in the sand, his head swam. Boar seemed to have lost track of where he had landed and was looking around the arena. He did not seem to have much periphery vision.
            River hurt, but it would pass, the pain always did. He studied Boar, he really was an ugly Were, with his small hindquarters and hardly any tail; he must not be able to turn very well at speed.
‘That’s it!’ River thought. He was very good at turning at speed, that’s how he could defeat Boar.
River pulled himself up. He remembered how he had just thought about how he was not the same cowering creature he had been, so what had changed? He could not just run until Boar finally killed him. No, he had not lost a fight in this terrible place yet, despite the many attempts at trying to kill him, and he would not give them the satisfactions of seeing his death now.
River flexed his muscles and rolled his shoulders; despite the pain, everything seemed to be in order. Boar was sniffing around the bloody patch of sand left by the previously killed Were. River walked around him in a wide circle and growled to get his attention.
Boar turned his beady eyes on River, his muzzle covered in bloodied sand, it look like he had forgotten River was there; he was probably just as stupid as he looked.
Boar roared and charged at River, but this time River did not wait and charged at Boar head on. The crowd cheered loudly.
The two met, River swerved to the side and jumped onto Boar’s back. Boar was to slow and could not manoeuvre in time to retaliate. River dug his claws into Boars back and bit down onto one of his small ears.
Boar roared in pain and swirled around wildly, trying to slash at River with his front claws. He managed to rake River’s front leg and swirling around; flung River from his back.
River landed in the sand behind Boar, pain shooting through his now injured leg. Board stood staring at him, a gapping hole where his ear use to be, and the blood that flowed from the wound soon stopped. Boar growled, his rage and anger showing.
River laughed inwardly. ‘Yeah, I’ve got your ear.’ He spat the ear out, and circled Boar again, ignoring his ripped leg. He knew he had to weaken Boar enough to get to his heart, Boar was much bigger then him, and it would be difficult to get under him.
Boar attacked River again, and this time River was unable to jump on his back again; as his injured leg woul not allow it. The two clawed and bit at each other; fur and flesh ripped loose from both . Boar pinned River down with his powerful front legs. River pushed hard and clawed at Boar, trying to keep the blunt snout and snapping jaws away from him.
River raked his back legs across Boars chest and abdomen, but his claws could not penetrate deep enough to reach the heart or vital organs. Boar’s snout came closer and closer, his fangs inches from River, Boar's hot breath on his face, saliva dripping into his eyes. There was only one thing River could do. Reaching up he snapped his fangs onto Boar's nose, biting down hard as Boar wined in pain and shook his head violently, clawing at River with his front claws.
River could feel Boars claws cut through his flesh and scrap against his ribs. River was flung wildly as his blood flew through the air. Unable to hold on any longer, he let go and was flew across the arena, hitting the sand and sliding hard into the wall, the wind being knocked out of him.
River was dazed and his vision blurred, as he tried to refill his lungs; he was in trouble here. He felt no pain, but he could feel his body being sapped of strength; he had to end this fight now.
            Boar seem to be laughing now, as he circled River, assessing if he was still a threat. River looked around the arena and spotted the bloody sand, it glistened in the lights. Deciding what to do, River pulled himself up shakily; he only had one shot at his.
Boar charged at him, River turned around and ran, resulting in another throng of boos from the crowed. He ran with the little strength he had left, is injured leg faultering more and more with every stride. Boar thundered after him. River stayed just a head of him, turning this way and that, slowing slightly; allowing Boar to come closer with every stride.
            River’s leg felt like jelly. Turning again he headed for the centre of the arena, straight for the bloodied spot, Boar was inches behind him. River jumped over the blood and landing, pushed himself with all his might, jumped sharply of to the left. Boar tried to follow, but his short back legs did not give him stability and he slipped in the muddy blood. Falling over, he slid to a hult onto his onto his side; sprawling.
            Seeing his opportunity, River spun around and jumped onto Boars chest, biting down hard. Boar clawed and bit River’s already wounded sides. Ignoring Boar, River pushed his snout deep into Boars chest, grabbing hold of the pumping heart. River junked upward, pulling the organ out of Boar’s chest.
            Boar’s attack on him stopped imediately and the Were became still, his body becoming limp and unmoving as it sagged in the sand. And so it was over. River dropped the warm heart with a loud plop, turning way from his defeated foe, he walked over to the door that lead to his cell. But he did not get very far. Unable to support him any longer, River’s legs collapsed under him.
            He lay in the soft, warm sand, his vision blurred and breathing hard. He would be okay, he always was. But as he lay in the sand overcome with tiredness, he was not so sure. Perhaps this time he had lost too much blood and been injured to badly.
            He was dimly aware of the cheering crowed and the announcer talking away with much gusto, but he did not listen – all River wanted to do was slip away. Far away from this horrible place.
            He closed his eyes tried to remember the smell of the rain, the sound of the wind as it blew through the trees. The warm sun and the gentle light of the moon. How he walked though wintertime, with stars all shining above and a cold breeze on his face. But when he opened his eye again, all he saw was the harsh, florescent light, concrete walls and the metal door in front of him opening.
            The guards came in, shouting at him and brandishing those long rods with the electrified tips. But he did not listen. A guard kicked him, but he was to weak to retaliate, he just lay in the sand. More shouting and another guard jabbed the prong into River’s wounded side – electricity and pain shot though him, making his body convulse, he could not even cry out as the muscles of his jaw clenched shut. The world spun around him, white dots appeared in front of his eyes and then silent blackness – it was all over, it was finished.

Thnkz... 4 Rding......