Short Fuse {Admiral}

[nightblood]

A gray-brown form lay in the corner of the mouth of his mother's den, green eyes darting around. The pup's head spun backwards at a sound coming from behind him in the shadows. At first, he thought it was Zuka sneaking up on him again. However, from what happened last time and the fact that there were seven tiny lumps snoozing beside a great breathing boulder, he knew it wasn't her. Probably just a pebble falling from one of the cracks in the rock wall.

Orem turned his head forward again, resting it on his paws. He couldn't sleep. Thoughts of that terrible attack kept him up. When he did get to sleep, his dreams were invaded by the dark face of his new found berserker side. Zuka hadn't been hurt much, maybe a few bruises on her ribs. The pain was what was probably keeping her asleep. It was her mind not wanting to wake up to that awful feeling. After his dark side had faded, he had apologized so much that he was sure she had gotten a headache to match the pain at her rib cage. Then he apologized for that as well.

Now that the pup had seen what he could do, he was afraid of himself. Afraid of doing more than just knocking the wind out of someone. He didn't want to kill. What made him like this? Sighing, Orem glanced out at the big world outside of his den, afraid to enter it for fear of his berserker side being set off again.

[Electus]

An ash-grey form darted gracefully down the familiar trail to Nightblood's den, a half-hearted yawn escaping from its maw. Mortil blinked sleepily, his steps measured and easy. It seemed all he did these days was train and patrol and sleep. Fancy that.

But he had a more important duty to do for now. He stopped as he approached Nightblood's den. Orem was near the edge as the warrior expected.

"Orem." Mortil said softly, "Follow me."

He beckoned with one paw to the gray-brown pup. He felt for him, especially because he knew of the young one's plight. It reminded him of himself...except his was a more tragic and much more serious.

"Couldn't sleep? What it...that again?" Mortil asked, referring to Orem's berserker side.

[nightblood]

"Orem."

Ears flitted forward as quick as a gunshot. A voice... Was he hearing voices now? Certainly not. At least... not yet. The voice was familiar. The pup quickly caught his Uncle's form.

"Follow me."

Orem stood up obediently and was about to follow when he heard his mother's steady breathing behind him soften. He couldn't hear it anymore. Fearing the worst, he looked back. He was shocked to find the Beta's red eye glaring at him. He had thought that the softening breath meant that she had stopped breathing entirely. He hadn't guessed that she might be better at controlling her breathing while she was awake.

With a reassuring nod from his mother, Orem bounded out of the cave after Mortil. He quickly caught up with him, fearing a hawk like Zuka had run into.

"Couldn't sleep? What it...that again?"

"Yes, Uncle..." the pup answered softly, "I was afraid it might..."

He trailed off, not sure what to expect from his berserker half, but still fearing it all the same.

[Electus]

"Yes, Uncle..." the pup answered softly.

Mortil sighed softly, his breath but a puff of wind. "I told Zuka to stop bothering you. When will she learn...?"

"I was afraid it might..."

The ash-grey warrior looked at the pup sympathetically. "You were afraid that it might hurt your sister. You were afraid that you would harm your brothers, kill them even. You were afraid that it would lose control, like some mad beast."

Mortil looked away a bit. As he spoke, his voice rang with bitterness. "You want to control it, yet you can't. You have no idea when it will happen, only that it will. You're afraid to fight, and you don't want to go near your siblings because you don't want to hurt them. Am I right?"

The warrior continued to walk, his single eye alert for any trouble.
"I know how you must feel, Orem...if anything, at least be thankful that you know this soon in life. I did not...and I lost everything."

He uttered a choked and bitter laugh, shaking his head. "How ironic that I would be training someone so much like myself...you are special, Orem. You and I...we cannot fight for sport, like your sisters and brothers can. We have to guard our actions carefully, lest we hurt the ones we love."

[nightblood]

"You were afraid that it might hurt your sister. You were afraid that you would harm your brothers, kill them even. You were afraid that it would lose control, like some mad beast. You want to control it, yet you can't. You have no idea when it will happen, only that it will. You're afraid to fight, and you don't want to go near your siblings because you don't want to hurt them. Am I right?"

Orem was only half shocked at his Uncle's complete recital of everything he was feeling. He opened his mouth to answer his question, but in the end, he could only nod.

"I know how you must feel, Orem...if anything, at least be thankful that you know this soon in life. I did not...and I lost everything."

~But you were happy longer...

"How ironic that I would be training someone so much like myself...you are special, Orem. You and I...we cannot fight for sport, like your sisters and brothers can. We have to guard our actions carefully, lest we hurt the ones we love."

"It isn't fair..." the pup whined quietly, lowering his head.

Mainly because he did not understand why this was happening, Orem resented almost everything his family and acquaintances did. Only his mother could understand fully what was going on. Apparently she had something close to this sort of hindrance when she was younger. The only difference was that she was able to communicate with it, whereas he hadn't learned to yet.

There was a difference between their second identities and Mortil's. Theirs was a major disagreement in the mind that manifested two separate personalities and could only form back together when both halves agreed on a major topic. It usually had to do with a loved one. In Mortil's case, as he understood it, nothing could bring the sides together. They were undoubtedly, unchangeably, two separate souls in one body. They could not merge.

At a thought, Orem raised his head.

"I wonder if Mom was ever able to control it..."

[Electus]

"It isn't fair..."

Mortil nodded. "I know...it's not. No one should have to deal with something like what you're going through, Orem. And yet..."

"I wonder if Mom was ever able to control it..."

The ash-grey wolf tilted his head. "Perhaps. I've never talked to Nightblood about it. I suppose you could ask her sometime."

He regarded the young pup trotting next to him again. "Orem...do you know why I'm teaching you and your siblings?"

[nightblood]

"Orem...do you know why I'm teaching you and your siblings?"

Orem looked up at his Uncle. He'd never much thought about it. But he got the basic idea. They were to be Arnlan's super pups. Warriors for the war that was to come between the pack and Sallin. But was there something more important?

"We're supposed to be warriors. You're the best fighter in Arnlan," he said simply, looking away into the forest.

He growled inwardly. He didn't want to fight. But the thing inside him, his other half, it thrived on fighting. The battlefield was its home. It hadn't meant to hurt Zuka, Orem could feel this, but the excitement and thrill of the fight drove it to do so. At Zuka's initial attack, it had taken action, defended itself, but he felt a sick pleasure as it did so. After his opponent was identified as his sister, the thing stopped, horrified as much as Orem was. It backed away, deep into his soul, cowering as if it had been beaten. Next time, he knew it'd make sure his opponent was a real enemy.

At least Orem had that comfort.

[Electus]

"We're supposed to be warriors. You're the best fighter in Arnlan."

Mortil nodded. "That is the first reason...yes."

The scarred warrior looked off into the direction the pup had stared off into. "I imagine that in your condition, your still quite lucid."

The wolf stared down at the ground for a brief moment. "You know of your mother's first suitor? No matter. Suffice to say he did some things before coming here that caused me a great deal of anger and pain. When I discovered he was here as well, I almost killed him."

His voice was quiet. "I...or rather Umbra, almost killed you mother. I was so angry...so resentful. I couldn't reign him in, and my anger only fueled his love of slaughter and death."

"I'm a walking demon, Orem. I know not when Umbra might decide to throw reason to the winds and begin a mad whirlwind of blood and slaughter."

Mortil looked Orem squarely in the eyes. "I am training you not only to be warriors. I am also training you to kill me."

[nightblood]

"You know of your mother's first suitor? No matter. Suffice to say he did some things before coming here that caused me a great deal of anger and pain. When I discovered he was here as well, I almost killed him."

Orem knew little of who he was talking about. Supposedly, he was dark like Armageddon, but a bit fluffier. According to his mother, he was out of Arnlan now and she'd be happy to kill him on sight, thought he didn't know why.

"I...or rather Umbra, almost killed your mother. I was so angry...so resentful. I couldn't reign him in, and my anger only fueled his love of slaughter and death."

This news was shocking to the pup, so much so that almost all bodily functions seemed to stop. I sat down quite suddenly and looked up at the older gray wolf. Was this true? Was his berserker side dangerous enough to take out his mother?

"I'm a walking demon, Orem. I know not when Umbra might decide to throw reason to the winds and begin a mad whirlwind of blood and slaughter. I am training you not only to be warriors. I am also training you to kill me."

His breathing quickened, heart rate picked up. Orem scooted back a few paces. He couldn't do that! Not his uncle. No! No matter how crazed Umbra got, he wouldn't be able to do something so terrible! Not even his own berserker side could do that!

"H-he won't do it," Orem managed to croak out, tears welling in his eyes, "He knows friend from enemy. Zuka was a freak accident. He won't f-fight you. You c-cant m-make him kill you!"

[Electus]

"H-he won't do it," Orem managed to croak out, tears welling in his eyes, "He knows friend from enemy. Zuka was a freak accident. He won't f-fight you. You c-cant m-make him kill you!"

Mortil laid down, his head between his paws as he looked at Orem.

"And yet...this is our lot in life, Orem. Should I ever become that which I most despise..."

He sighed. "I'm going to tell your siblings eventually as well. But you...you had to know early...for many reasons."

The older wolf suddenly rose to his feet, his eyes hard. "Dry your tears. A warrior does not do such things" he said, authority in his voice.

"Listen to me now, Orem. I know that you don't want to fight. Your afraid, your worried. Hesitation is not a trait that you can possess! As your teacher and your future commander, I order that you swear this oath to me!"

Mortil's hard look softened, and his voice was gentle again. "Should Umbra ever threaten the security and safety of Arnlan...you and your siblings will do all in your power to stop him...kill if necessary."

"Swear this, Orem!"

[nightblood]

"And yet...this is our lot in life, Orem. Should I ever become that which I most despise... I'm going to tell your siblings eventually as well. But you...you had to know early...for many reasons."

"Because I'm like you," Orem mumbled, trying, and failing, to hold back the water works, "Besides, Zuka wont do it either. She likes Umbra too much. She said he's cool."

"Dry your tears. A warrior does not do such things."

"... not a warrior," the pup whispered defiantly, but still obeying the order as he raised his wrist to his face to wipe away the tears, "Don't wanna be one..."

"Listen to me now, Orem. I know that you don't want to fight. You're afraid, you're worried. Hesitation is not a trait that you can possess! As your teacher and your future commander, I order that you swear this oath to me!"

Despite his obvious distaste for anything the gray wolf had to say, Orem raised his ears and twisted them forward toward his voice. He didn't want to hear it.

"Should Umbra ever threaten the security and safety of Arnlan...you and your siblings will do all in your power to stop him...kill if necessary."

"Swear this, Orem!"

"I DON'T WANT TO!"

At this point, Orem was far passed upset. Now he understood the reason for his existence. His brothers and sisters were not only Arnlan's army, but its protectors against Umbra. Their destinies were chosen ahead of time. Had they no say in anything?

From the sitting position, the pup jumped up, head and tail raised as he snarled loudly in an attempt to be as threatening as possible despite his tiny size. He had a voice. He had an opinion. But did anyone care? No. They expected him to be a good little soldier and do as he was told, even if it meant killing his own friends. Well, here was the one and only thing he'd ever fight for: the right to live and do as he wanted and to not be controlled.

[Electus]

"I DON'T WANT TO!"

"You will!" Mortilitas roared back, his eye hard. "You WILL obey!"

The ash-grey warrior snarled back, his fangs bared and ears low. It was clear that the older wolf was trying to force something out of Orem...something primal and fierce.


"What will you do, Orem? What CAN you do? Well? ANSWER ME!"

The warrior loosed an ear-splitting roar, his scarred body tensing like a coiled spring. For the protection of Arnlan, for the sake of those he cherished, he would do anything...

Even loose another demon.

"YOU ARE A DEMON OREM!" Mortilitas yelled, his voice gauging and stabbing.

"You WILL OBEY!"

[nightblood]

"You will!" Mortilitas roared back, his eye hard. "You WILL obey!"

"I WON'T!" Orem shouted at the older warrior, hears flitting back at the opposing voice. His fangs were bared. No one had ever been angry enough with him to threaten him with fangs.

"What will you do, Orem? What CAN you do? Well? ANSWER ME!"

Another thunderous roar came. The pup's confidence was waning. His tail fell, but his eyes remained hard and fierce. When his uncle took a breath to shout again, Orem pulled himself together and made himself growl back, baring his fangs in return. He would not be forced down a path he did not want to take.

"YOU ARE A DEMON OREM! You WILL OBEY!"

"I am not a demon!"[/b][/color] he snarled back, beginning to loose himself in his anger, "I'M NOT LIKE YOU!!"

Fear overtook him. His tail pressed up against his belly as he pulled his head back, ears down and pressed against his skull. That wasn't him. He wasn't a fighter. Something else was boiling inside, grabbing for control. He took a few steps back until his back ran into a tree. Pulling his body down, he made himself small. He'd felt this before, but it was quicker last time. This time, he felt it rising within him, his other identity, the other part of his soul. He mustn't get out. Orem had to do all he could to suppress it, lest it took over again. He would attack his Uncle, probably lose, but he would attack. He didn't want to!

"Get away from me," he whispered.

[Electus]

"Get away from me."

Damn, the pup was a tough shell to crack. Still..though it tore him, Mortilitas knew...that whatever the cost, he must bring it out.

"You are weak" he spat, growling in anger.

"You are unwilling to admit what you are. You are a DEMON. You WILL fight. You MUST fight."

"Fight me, Orem! You know you enjoy it! FIGHT ME!"

Suddenly, the ash-gray wolf's voice dove into a much crueler and harsher cadence.

"FIGHT ME OR DIE!"

[nightblood]

"You are weak"

"Am not..."

Orem's left side was facing Mortil. He would not turn to lock eyes with him. He kept facing forward, into the ever darkening horizon. It was testimony to his slowly dissipating hope that he would not turn into the monster his Uncle was telling him that he was. He wanted to cry out for his mother. His father wouldn't come. He never came. Only his mother was close enough to help. Despite this fact, he couldn't bring himself to call to her. Perhaps he feared what Mortil would do, or perhaps he didn't want help.

"You are unwilling to admit what you are. You are a DEMON. You WILL fight. You MUST fight. Fight me, Orem! You know you enjoy it! FIGHT ME!"

"I don't want to."

"FIGHT ME OR DIE!"

"GO AWAY!!"

At the sound of the other berserker's voice, Orem's on dark half was pulled forward, as if drawn to it. He couldn't contain it anymore. Like a sudden wind, it pushed him aside, taking complete control. He still felt that it knew friend from foe, but his Uncle was pushing him to do something he didn't want to do. It wouldn't allow it. Orem could only plead for mercy from this silent devil.

~Don't hurt him!

Orem's head twisted to look Umbra directly in the eye. His fangs were bared as he snarled, perhaps a bit more impressively now that the berserker side was in control. His body was low, but there was no fear. His legs were now launch pads, ready to hurl him forward should there be an attack. He was on the defensive. He still refused to fight until Umbra made the first move.