* * *

Andy was thankful the stranger had remained on the ground. He didn't want to admit that his size was intimidating, but it was true. Sage didn't hesitate to growl in warning to either male.

"Torin is the prints we saw before. He lives close by...He'll help the wolf bites." Sage had issued her arm, and Andy took her into his grasp, taking his time to look it over.
"What the hell are those things?" Andy questioned, but Torin's attention was elsewhere as his head followed the wounded howls from only God knows where.

"They're still out. We need to hurry back." The male docked his bow and held out his necklace—Which featured the same crystal all the wolves and witches were wearing. Though it was much more intricate than their own, personalized to the point of interest, it soon disappeared as he shifted.

As it turned out, Sage's theory of the strange pawn print had matched correctly. Torin was certainly double the size of a normal wolf, but he did not smell like an Alpha.
Not at all.

If anything, he smelled foreign, like a new breed.

From what Andy could determine, he was indeed a pack member. But the closest pack to them now was Grey Hallow, and he was certainly far away from being associated with them.

They unknowingly followed this stranger, yet the imprinted smell of those amber eyes clicked once Torin's nose gestured to the markings.

Sage had stopped entirely when she caught the smell of burning ash that flew up her nose.

Hun? You alright?

Yeah, I remember that smell. Demon dogs had that at my pack. Never figure it out...But it's the same.

Andy growled, not at Sage and her explanation, but because these stories didn't make sense.

What the hell were Demon dogs?
And what were they doing near Sage and her pack?

With the potential place to rest for the night, the rest of Half Crescent make their way through the thickened bush and straight to a cabin. While it didn't look in the best shape, it certainly held its own.

"Humans believed that they could catch Bigfoot if they made these camping sites and scattered them around America," Torin informed the group, leaving the door open for the rest. However, Andy plowed his way in first to scan the area.

Yet his eyes landed on the plaque just above the fireplace. This man meant no harm, he was a true nomad. And the Norse symbol disregarded all primal urges to fight this male.

"Familiar with it, yes?" It wasn't just his rough voice around the edges, but the accent it paired with.
"Unfortunately...I've only witnessed the other sort, and he wasn't a good man," he said, eyeing the stranger in a sense of apology.

He called out for Sage and the rest of the remaining pack members to make their way inside. Torin wasn't prepared for two pups that hardly reached his knees to come and give their thanks. But he smiled down at them and set them off with a mission.

To search for anything that could be used as a bucket.

"Why do you need a bucket?" Sage questioned, with her head drawn into a tilt.
"Those wounds won't heal on their own, lille venner are going to help me prepare the tonic." [little friends]
However, Andy did not like the attention his female was getting—He understood the natural order of progression, that a lone wolf would seek another lone wolf.

It's what happened in his case, and his growl hardly battled Torin's voice when he spoke.
"Smilet ditt er vakkert."
[Your smile is beautiful.] He said without much thought to the matter, nor could anyone understand him.

Or so he thought.

Andy didn't hesitate to raise back his shoulders with his eyes onyx as could be. "You might've helped our females in the last hour, but stay away from mine," Andy growled lowly, but Torin had not hesitated with his own remark.
"I don't see your mark, Alpha." Torin so easily returned, which silenced Andy in the instant, only for Elena to come forward with a gentle an on her Alpha. "They've been stolen from us..." Torin knew it was a losing battle from the beginning, but his once playful smile turned into a frown as he turned to Elena and Sage in confirmation.

It was challenging to know that Sage held a story just at her neck. The faded bites that lingered had nearly flared up at the scrutiny, so she shifted her fur back over her shoulders as she nodded.

Soon, Torin took a seat and began unloading his weapon arsenal and redirecting others throughout his temporary home. Soon, he chuckled at seeing Luna so interested in his dagger.
"It's rude to touch another person's weapons, hun." Andy's voice broke through her piqued curiosity, and she instantly let it go while mumbling an apology.

Torin hardly understood why the female was pouting. It wasn't exactly customary to think it was rude.

No, Torin understood what the male was getting at.

It wasn't polite to touch another male's property when being with another, and of course, the Alpha's wolf was still active on the surface.
"A-alpha? I don't feel that good." Koby called out, bringing Sage to rush to see the etched lines of the bite marks start to blister and burn.

She didn't care that Torin was just behind her shoulder. Without delay, she pulled her water pack forward to allow its contents to flow out at her will. Her intermediate healing technique didn't seem to be reacting well with whatever they were dealing with, but it seemed to ease Koby's discomfort for the time being.

"How many of you were bit?" The male questioned, and Andy turned around the room to see a decent few hands rise up. "Sage?"
"Just one. It doesn't burn badly," she explained, but Torin shook his head. "That's not the issue, vakker. The issue is letting it fester—I don't think you want to turn into one of those," Tobin said without going into more detail.

Even as Andy's burning stare followed him across the room.

The pups managed to take out one of their many cutlery, and it was perfect for the amount of tonic paste needed to brew, and goddess bless, that he was in the presence of wolves and witches. Yet Sage bent down to her knees and listened to every word Torin spoke of.

Desperate for knowledge of any and all things supernatural, the male continued to inform them all. Yet Isla's gasp caused Andy to frown—"That's only used for—"

"The undead? I take it this is your first time dealing with them?" Sage nodded quickly and spoke about the other Rogues traveling. "America's packs have fallen, from what I've gathered. The council is no more, and the packs that have managed to stay alive are struggling." Andy shook his head.

"Heard that Mystic Grimm is doing alright..."
"Of course, they're more scattered this side. For weeks, I've been trying to figure out why. But they're reckless and have no dire plan in order. They're just migrating back and forth." Sage narrowed her gaze and frowned once more. "Undead? What's that?"
"Have you heard what a Draugr is, Luna?" Sage shook her head, and Andy growled as he appeared closer by her side. "Don't fill her head with legends. What are they?"

"I understand your concern. I would be worried if you weren't. But by that expression, Alpha, you know what they are." Torin offered, focused on his task at hand, while Sage sat back and watched the two males stare at one another while Andy was in a silent glare, as if a warning to remain quiet.
Torin's eyes had finally flickered off towards Sage, waiting for her to speak up.

She did so with an aggravated huff, paired with a soft shove towards Andy. "Let the male speak, Andy. I want to know what Draugr are."
"He's talking nonsense." This caused her to frown further. Andy was never this rude in Julian's presence, and thus, she rose to her feet, dismissing his help and only latching onto him when she was settled upright and dragging him across the room.

Why are you being mean?

This isn't about being mean. He's talking about ghost stories, hun. They're not real.

But we don't know what they were. They have red eyes and make skin burn and smell bad. These aren't normal wolves, I learn a lot of new things when I come out of the cage in Underground. If I think everything is fake or think it's a ghost story, I won't learn. Now shut up. I want to hear what the male has to say.

It had been a rush for Sage to speak so openly and direct. But she needed to, otherwise they would be forfeiting the aid before they were actually helped.

Hadn't Torin earned a chance after what he's done?

With one last glare, Sage returned to her seat beside the fire and the working male. "I understand your frustration and confusion, Alpha."

"No, you wouldn't." He bit back, earning himself another huff from Sage. However, this sounded more like disappointment than anger.
"Little Luna, your Alpha is guarded. I respect that. The Draugr aren't to be messed with...I am glad I found you when I did." He said, nicking his head off towards Koby, who was withering slightly and groaning.

It didn't stop the method of madness that Sage watched before her, Torin worked just as well and spoke about the dangers that Draugr possessed—But it still didn't make any sense in her mind. What were they?

"They're dead...They're the dead rising. It's an old Norse myth that involves creatures that have no mind or soul. They're just...walking again." Torin nodded his head at Andy's explanation, only leaving Sage to realize that she was caught in the endless cycle of the unknown trying to kill her. Again.

"What do Draugr bites do?"
"If left untreated, wolves will become just the same—mindless servants to whoever woke them up." Luna's eyes go wide at that revelation, revealing that someone intently sought to use them for a reason, but what could that possibly be?

"You said they're mostly in New England?"
"Yes, and I haven't made it close to any willing packs that aren't closed at the borders. I'll admit, they are using their heads for once. But they can be defeated, and the bites are curable." He said, gesturing to the said bowl before making his way off towards Koby.

"This will take away the effects of the burn and should heal by morning. I suggest everyone gets treated before retiring for the night." Andy agreed to Torin's suggestion, and the witches didn't hesitate to help brew the tonic-infused paste.

Sage sat mixing the ingredients beside the other witches, which surprised Torin. "You certainly know your craft, little Luna. This surprises me."
"I'm a hybrid, my mama is a hybrid, and my papa is a wolf."
"Ah, that explains it. But magic isn't simply for just witches. Wolves can experience their own forms of magic, yes?" Sage found herself stilled at the explanation. "Like what?"

"This tonic, for instance. Or that we draw our strength from the moon. Shifting into our beasts is not the only gift the goddess gave us as beings. Many things have been lost in translation over time. Modern medicine has risen instead of herbal, being one of them." Sage nodded instantly and showed the fine lines that displayed the abuse she faced from said modern torture techniques.

Torin's attention had turned outright, and concern laced his gaze as he scanned Sage's years of imprisonment, which showed easily on her battered skin and tortured eyes.
He hardly had to ask. It spoke heavily in the way Luna held herself and spoke.

"I know wolves from Arctic Crest. They're closer to an old practice. That's what my friend says."
"You're correct, and they would certainly know how to fight them." Torin's words had peeked Severin's attention, who was busy binding his mate's bites. "There's a way to fight them? As in safely fight them?"

"Of course, fighting in fur gives them the advantage, as we need close combat. And seeing them in skin is much more unpredictable. You'll need to fight them from a reasonable distance or with weapons. Proper weapons" That was certainly a sore topic amongst them all.

"I only know how to shoot a gun." She whispered out in defeat, and most of the pack hardly knew that, to begin with. "That's a start, but bullets are a rare commodity as of late. Pure silver too. What I mean are with swords and daggers." His gesture brought them up to his beautiful arsenal that Sage left as a sort of display that was actually real and ready to use.

"Careful, Luna, those aren't your size. Might have to slim this one down for you." He said with a cheeky grin, which was soon denied as Andy pulled her back. "I'll build you one."

She snorted, seeing the jealous look in his eyes that was starting to turn crazed, and Sage had eased her hand towards his thigh, patting him gently to remind him that he needed to be kinder.

Careful. Torin is just a male. I don't know him. I'll listen a little but remember what happened before with Lucy.

Yeah, I don't need this Viking to poison me. Funny thing is I'm sure he could.

Sage's smile drifted for a moment, but she raised the small bowl, painting her fingertips with it. "Shirt off." That was all she ordered, and the male stripped from his layers and sat down to work with her shortened height.

"I should be doing you first, hun."
"You have more bites than me. It's okay. See?" It certainly was not okay, as the bite itself had looked much more rotten. Sage jumped at the sight.

"Torin? Can you look at my bite? It looks funny." She whispered out, and the Viking male finished overlooking Elena before turning his attention to the Luna.

He stared at it and then scooped up a large portion of the paste. "If it's blackened, it needs a second dose. Witches! We'll need another round of buckets." Isla and the rest shouted their confirmation and switched out the communal bowls with the freshly mashed paste.

"Fortunate that you run with a coven...We wouldn't have enough hands to make the paste otherwise." He said, massaging said paste into Sage—Though she felt a slight burn lingering, she flinched.

"I take it's worse in witches then...Their blood is thinner and sweet—Makes sense." Torin was speaking out loud to himself. Quickly scribbling down in a notepad his suspicion. However, it was clear he didn't realize he was speaking out loud until he caught Sage's smile.

"Where you learn all this?"
"I hail from the clan known as Lundr. My Alpha and Jarl tasked me to come up with a set of hunters to eradicate their kind. But this is no simple dismissal. They're hunting something." Sage listened intently but held no concept of what a Jarl was or how Torin came to this little human travel post to pose a threat.

"You hunt them?"
"I am trying to, yes...Wrap it firmly, Alpha." Torin interrupted himself and allowed Andy to stop his seething to continue off with said healing. "There are too many to keep track of. The cluster your group ran into was one of the many I've been after. Thankfully, they are no more, but I don't doubt that they'll be resurrected soon." When Andy finished his set task, he analyzed it and ensured that Sage was comfortable and could move underneath.

Once that was set, he allowed the viking's words to settle in his mind, causing him to huff—As well as remove the small bits of skin he found from the said Draugr previously.

"This isn't Norse, is it?" Andy said, looking for confirmation of his own knowledge. But Torin shook his head.
"I've sent it to all my brothers and sisters in the states. They're unfamiliar with the symbol." Sage moves her head forward and jolted forward to hold onto the Draugr's removed skin.

"That's—That's Master's symbol, bad vampire man...Elena! Isla!" She hardly needed to call them out, the term 'master' had never been used since their escape. Yet the faces of pure terror had caused most of the female population to shiver in terror.

"I take it you know of this vampire?" Torin questioned, leaving Sage to nod, whispering out the name that had caused those from Black Crescent to flinch and cower away.
Andy didn't realize how sore of a topic this would be, though he shouldn't be surprised.

It was their tormentor for goddess knows how long.

A heartbeat barely passed before a howl sectioned into the distance, causing Torin to grit his teeth and withhold his growl. The warning had been met with an equally confused look as the others watched their host retract his bow before taking the necessary strides to the exit.

"Anyone who is bandaged and can fight, I'd like the help." He deemed, and of course, Andy could hardly stop Sage when she walked forward to the male and took the offered sword.

She didn't know one movement with it, but sage was sure of one thing: The Draugr were on their way.

______

Date: 08/06/24

Time: 10:03

Words: 2971

Author's Note:

Only a few more chapters of the rewrite remain, and in the meantime, I plan on joining the Ambys!

The issue is that only one story can be placed in each category, so I'm left to choose between submitting Lacking Humanity: Crescent Moon or The Brave Human Mate in the paranormal category.

I do think The Brave Human Mate can be considered a fantasy instead, but it's a difficult choice to make.

Let me know what you think!

Anywhooo, we're slowly on our way back to Crescent Moon, hopefully all is well back home!

Hope you're all doing well and I'll see you in the next update!!