Welcome to Gaia! ::

Uru passed through the gates to the family's estate, the long gravel lane, flanked by fine kept greens and shrubs, that led to the main manor. The day was still young, having traveled here and sleeping nearby, he needed all the energy and, possibly, time he could get. The servants were feverishly working already, shears, water cans, shovels, spades, pots and bags, they did not notice the new presence until he stopped beside a young woman. She was young, perhaps a little younger than himself; her hair auburn and her face soft for it weren't the slight rings under her brown eyes. The tall boy stood over her, draped in a dark jacket with an off white fur-collar and dark jeans, all gifts from his sister as he was insistent on not spending money that holiday. But to the girl, she clearly does not recognize him as keeps her eyes averted after glancing at him. He looks about the large front of the estate and the people working it. He imagined them all being scolded and punished when they didn't work, didn't work hard enough, or disobeyed the alpha. He tsk'd under his breath which drew the girl's attention again. Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at the manor.

"M-may I help you, honored guest?" her voice was broken, soft and almost a whimper as she spoke. He wasn't aware of the type of monster she was, but he was certain that she was afraid of disrespecting or upsetting him in anyway. She looked at him with large, round eyes waiting for an answer.

He glanced briefly before turning his gaze to the manor. "No, keep working or you'll get in trouble." He spoke, his tone stern and, yet, caring.

The girl gasped as she clasped her hands around the side of his jacket, the spade abandoned in the ground. "M-Master Uru'baen?" She questioned, her voice loud enough to get the attention of others nearby. She smiled as tears began to well in her eyes, a smile upon her lips. "You've returned, Master Uru'baen. It has been so long since we've seen your face! I-it's I, Cordelia."

Her name was a distant memory, closing his eyes to summon it to the surface. "I vouched for you when you snuck that plate of food to your quarters." He recalled, finally looking back at her. He knelt down, taking her hands into his. "I'm back, but I must be sure mother nor uncle are aware of my being here." He glanced at crowd of servants that had gathered around; he counted six of them, there were more further, but the word will travel fast. "I have business I need to take care of." The word pinched with a growl, sending whispers among the group. The decision was precise and the motions were set. The servants sent word to the others around through whispers and Uru had stalked through the servants' quarters where he was absolutely sure no one in the pack would go. They had no reason to 'lower themselves to the like of monsters'. The quarters were tight, unkept, but it was enough for the staff to live comfortably together. It was stripped down to the basics at the very least, bedrooms, beds, bathrooms, a small kitchen. He growled at it as he passed through slowly, taking everything in. He had lived here for seventeen years and never seen the conditions and none of the servants said anything. Of course they wouldn't, it would mean disrespect for the house that they serve. Even still, the servants seemed to greet him with warm smiles and welcomes as he walked through their quarters, the smell was warm also. It was halfway through when he was greeted by another girl, about the same age as himself.

"Romona, you helped me when I dropped a tray when I first started." She greeted as she gave a curt dip as was customary. Uru huffed through his grumpy resting face as she beckoned him to follow her. They were met at the entry way from the manor's kitchen from the servants quarters by two men who welcomed them inside. The kitchen was bustling and busy with preparations that he had imagined to be lunch as the time for breakfast was come and gone, judging by the immense amount of plates and silverware in the three-tub sink. Romona picked up fruit and bread along the way, passing them back to himself after he had mentioned he had missed that opportunity to eat.

Leaving the kitchen, he stalked through the dining room, mostly ignored by the servants there resetting the table as he pushed through the doors into the main hallway to the foyer. The manor smelled the same as it always had, it was cold, dark, and clean. In fact, it smelled like bleach and the hint of blood. He growled inwardly as he pressed himself up against the wall as he moved through the hallway to the foyer. The foyer was the same as always, patterned floor underneath a large chandelier with two arched staircases on both sides of it. The demon kept himself low as he pressed his way up the stairs, beyond the balcony landing, and up the final flight to the second floor. He tried to recall where everything was; it had been a year and hoped that muscle memory would simply guide him to where he was looking to go. His sister's room and his were on this floor, and there was a flight of stairs in their wing that would lead to the third floor where his parents floor was. He moved quietly and slow through the west wing, giving glances to the servants who had stopped to watch him, bowing and dipping as he passed with a soft 'Master'.

Uru came to the door that he remembered to his sister's resting at the end of the hallway, the floor-to-ceiling window allowing light to flood the dark hall. Her scent cascaded from the door, his heart pounding in his chest as he raised a fist to the wood. He knocked.

"Go away, Raph! We aren't going to talk about it anymore! I'm sorry!" a female's voice came from the other side, a hint of sorrow struck his heart. The soft sobs and sniffles were enough for him to turn the handle slowly to peek inside. The room was dark, only lit by a single candle by the bedside, the curtains drawn to a close. A figure sat on the bed, back to the door. The sounds of the sobs were clearer now. "Raph, I said we can't!"

"Is this 'Raph' someone I will have to talk to?" His voice came out, soft and caring, but still deep and stern. He watched her form tense, her small ears coming right up as she turned tear-stained eyes toward the door as he pulled himself inside. Her sadness swelled to excitement as she bounded off the bed and flung herself to him, catching her in the air he pulled her close. Putting her down, and kissing her forehead, he brushed past her to the curtains to open them. "Before you say anything, mother and uncle do not know I am here."

"Then why are you here, brother?" She questioned, holding back a residual sob.

"I... am on a hiatus. A break." Not a lie, but not a full truth. He comes before her and kneels down. It had been a while and she has hardly grown. At the age of thirteen, she was still just a little under five foot; comparing their height with the flat of his palm. She swatted it away with a chuckle before pulling the hand back to hold onto. "I came to speak to mother about a very important matter."

"Oh, okay, I wanna show you something real quick before then." She began dragging him out the door and down the hallway, going willingly at his own pace. He felt his heart pace in his chest, his eyes keeping a close watch of his surroundings. "You're ears are gone, does that mean you have better control of your shapeshifting?" He nodded. "I am glad you're still wearing dad's old scarf." He wiggled his head free of it, loosening it so that it wrapped loosely over his clavicle. She brought them down the hall to the study where a new, black piano sat. She hummed softly as she made her way inside and sat beside it. "It was a gift from mother to me. I don't get to play it as much now with the new lessons and such." Uru could not help but notice the solemn smile on her lips - no, her face as her eyes fell to the floor.

Uru sat beside her, swinging his legs over the small seat. His fingers hit a key which struck her attention as she watched him, his eyes utterly focused on what was before him. She has seen him play before, many times, in fact, he was the one who taught her initially when the tutors were struggling. Normally his eyes were softer, sometimes closed, but his eyes were stern, focused, and before him. The notes came one by one before a flourish of notes plucked themselves from the strings. His sister hums softly to herself as he played the music from memory; the sheets before him were nothing compared to what he was doing himself. The melody was hauntingly calm and it was smooth and slow. The music was all there was in the house; there were no sounds of footsteps or whispers or the clattering of pans and dishes or the scuff of shoes on the floor. There was just the music. Uru'baen does not take his eyes off the keys before him, his sister, Brenna, taking to her feet to wistfully move about the room to herself, almost dancing. The notes were steadily reaching a crescendo where it reached a loud climax with a flurry of notes that seemed to keep the sound in that haunting state but it was no longer calm nor slow before it came down to a bout of heavier notes. Brenna's dance stopped as she watched her brother's finger dance along the keys.

“BRENNA!” A voice feminine, shrill voice called out, echoing through the house, clashing with the music. It stopped as their attention quickly turned to the door and then to each other.

Brenna came to the top of the steps as she looked down to see her mother; dressed in a fine dress with a slit on the side for her posture to take form, her arms across her chest and a clutch in one hand. Her hair was done up, as it was everyday, and her blue eyes trained on her daughter. “Today is not your music lesson, Brenna. You will have no need for that tutor any longer an-” Uru'baen stepped from the hallway to be beside his sister, his massive, wide frame beside her tiny, petite shape. He stood tall with arms crossed and cold stare down to the woman in the empty foyer. Her lip pulled tight to a line as her eyes narrowed. She snapped her fingers and the sound of scuffling footsteps foretold the arrival of their uncle who turned to greet them. “Uru'baen, I did not expect to see you.” She gave a glance to the man beside her who was a similar shape to her son but slightly shorter, less bulky, and a bit wider around the middle, but certainly older. The man ducked his head but kept his eyes on the pair on the stairs.

Uru'baen unzipped his jacket, pulling a parchment from inside. “Weren't you, Naerina?” He questioned. Her focus fell to the parchment. Her sister questioned it's purpose beside him as he, and her, began to descend the stairs. “I found it on my desk, in my dorm room, shortly after my examination. I shouldn't have been surprised knowing that it came from the family. But it certainly did not surprise me of the contents.” Uru reached the balcony landing, offering the letter to Brenna. Her eyes fell to it, unfolding it and scanning.

“Mother, what is this!? “You are no longer needed at the manor as you have failed many of the qualifications as heir”.” She read out loud, crunching it in her fist as she waved it about. “What does that mean, mother? Why isn't brother allowed home?!”

“It is as your mother says, Brenna.” The man, their uncle, spoke with a growl in his throat. “Your brother is no longer needed by the pack and so he has been cut free.”

“To hell with that! Brother isn't gonna go anywhere!” Brenna turned to see that his brother had already left her side and was descending the steps to face the pair. She quickly followed after him.

Naerina, the alpha of Cocytus and their mother watched her son moved with some strange sense of confidence she did not appreciate. No, she hated it. In fact, her gaze fell to her daughter instead. Uru'baen did not care as he came to the foyer, level with the adults, his arms falling to his side, his uncle stepping between him and his mother. He had expected as much, a small smirk on the corner of his lip at the action. “Is that it, Naerina? You have nothing to say to me, just your watch dog? You won't say it to me but you will write it?” His voice was unwavering, it wasn't angered like his expression, in fact, it sounded more like it was commanding an answer. His mother turned away from him and remained stoic, facing the hallway that led deeper in the manor. “Naerina, are you going to be a child and remained tight lipped about trying to disowning me?”

She snapped her head toward him when called a child, her mouth opened when the uncle leapt forward. Uru reached out defensively and brought him down the ground in a fluid motion as if practiced. Because it was. Many times. While the uncle snarled and growled, Uru but glared down at the man, a soft rumbling in his chest.

“Disown you, Uru'baen? Oh, in my mind, I had disowned you ages ago when your father was exiled from here. Do you remember?” His brow knitted together as his growl grew louder at the mention of his father. He recalled he had an involvement, while involuntary, in the dispense of his father. He knew the game she was playing; preying on his weaknesses to get under his skin. He would not allow it. She began to move about the foyer with a steady gait. “But I couldn't, not officially anyway, pack laws and whatever. You were named heir and I couldn't just get rid of you for that title alone. So I kept on getting you tutors and the stuff you needed in hopes, and by hope I mean a darn miracle, that you'd finally fall in line. I had hoped that if I sent you off that you would be better, but lo' and behold, you got jacking worse. Good job, son, you have your own drum.”

“You aren't allowed to call me that.” he growled.

She chuckled as she continued. “But then it came to me after a meeting that I could get rid of you, and by the laws of our pack's pact with the others, it is legal.” She smiled so wickedly that he instinctively placed a hand before Brenna, protectively. “Oh good, even your instincts are aware of the new heir of Cocytus is.” Uru gaped as he looked over his shoulder as Brenna's gaze fell to her feet. The pieces were beginning to fall into place; it was why she was able to visit him, she had requested it. It was why she was questioning him about the courtship rituals of their species... was Raph?... The new lessons? She was being groomed! He snarled, his eyes flashing toward the woman. “That's right, Brenna is the new heir and, thus, you are no longer needed by us. She can't have the title if you're in the family, so you're done with. You are no longer part of Cocytus. You're an omega, unbound, and alone.” She lets the last word draw out as she watched as the realization crashed on the boy.

It dawned and it dawned fast. He felt his heart clench. He felt himself pale as his mind struggled to piece the information together, his arm slowly falling to his side. A hellhound of their unkind that wasn't with a pack was bound to die a lot sooner than one with a family. The larger the pack, the stronger its members were. The companionship of family and the members of the pack that gave comfort and a sense of safety would be gone. He was losing his ties. He would be losing his sister, at last. His bushy brows came up as he felt a sense of fear take him as the woman chuckled. That chuckle became a laugh. That laugh became manic and it was joined by the uncle. Uru'baen snarled as he shot an arm out in front of his sister like before, protectively.

“If I am no longer pack, Naerina.” His voice hitched and parted by heavy breathing, hints of anger behind those words. “I have the right to challenge you for position of alpha as a rogue Hël'würgen.”

She laughed even louder. “You? Challenging me? That is sweet, child, but you have nothing to offer me here to even accept that challenge. No one has ever challenged me.”

Uru smirked at this, knowing that he had caught an oversight. He straightened up, his mother's elated expression deflating as he rose. “You forget, the law states an alpha cannot decline a challenge posed to them.” It was one of the first laws that they ever went over when it came to grooming heirs for they had to prepare themselves for the day that they would be challenged. Her expression twisted to anger, denial, then realization, and then acceptance, then to begrudging. “Be happy, you get to make the terms.”

“Fine.” she bit out as she tossed her clutch aside and her shoes aside. “It will be myself and you, with my choice of partner.” She answered as Uru shrugged off his jacket, placing it on the banister. She called for a servant who appeared and disappeared, only to come back seconds later with parchment. Naerina bit into her finger as she placed it onto the paper, holding it out to her son. He did the same as was customary. She smiled as she moved back to her side of the foyer before holding it out casually to the uncle who did the same, receiving a growl from Uru. She had chosen the uncle as her partner in the fight. It was the law, it was what the demons were bound by, it was the one thing they were not able to break should they want to. The alpha set the rules.

“Nex Sacramentum.” the three called in unison as the parchment began to flare; two flames of blue and a single flame of black before the parchment was but a triskele, proof that the oath was taken and the law was instated.

“You are aware of the laws, are you not? I cannot be sure since you never studied, always scaring off your tutors.”

“Because your tutors were weak of heart.” He countered as he made no motion to be the first to make a move. “But I am aware of the laws involved with this ritual fight, Naerina. I know a lot more than you do.” She snapped her fingers and his large uncle was already lumbering toward him, his form slowly shifting to that of their lupine state. He was a few feet from him when Uru held a hand up as if indicating 'hold on a second'. “Uncle, you should step aside if you are seriously considering doing what my she wants you to do.” He saw him falter, it was in his eyes.

Naerina glowered as she snapped her fingers again. “What are you doing!?”

“He knows better than to attack me.” Uru replied. “He's already lost to me.”

“What!? When!?” She cried through a growl.

“Before I left, while you took Brenna away somewhere. It was only later that I realized why you took her away, it was to seek a partner for her, wasn't it?” He called, brushing past his uncle who deflated, returning to a resemblance of a humanoid. “He lost, I spared him because I am not a killer. Hël'würgen do not kill. But I will invoke the law if he raises a hand to me.”

The frustrated and aggravated scream she let loose sent chills down all of their spines. “FINE! FINE! YOU ARE BOTH WORTHLESS! TAKE BRENNA AND GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!” She roared. The uncle took the young lady and ushered her up the stairs, out of the way as the woman ventilated with glaring eyes on the boy before her, her form shifting underneath her skin.

Their species was more feral and reckless but very unpredictable when they were fully transformed, it was the only thing that helped him beat his uncle. But this was the alpha of the pack. While the members got stronger for each one in the pack, she was even stronger. He let go a roar before lunging at him before he could bring his fists up to guard, her claws swiping at his left. He watched in fear as the shackle that had been locked around his left wrist for the last sixteen years was ripped off in shreds. He bounded back a safe distance. He noticed immediately the weight that was missing from his side now. She came charging again. He took a step, catching her shoulder with a sharp right strike, then a left strike to her other shoulder, a right hook to her head, a left upper to her chest, and a round-house kick to send her towards the door. A routine that he practiced the entire year and he pulled it off as he exhaled. The two went at each other for a while before escaping to their side of the foyer. Soft whimpers from Brenna came from above, the sounds of a grip tightening over the banister stressing the situation.

“You ungrateful child! I should have never had you!” she snarled. “I never wanted you to begin with!” She added. “It was your father, he did this.”she hissed. “Yes, it was his fault. I never wanted you. But, he, he was insistent. I was stupid. I was smitten. No, no, no, no, I wasn't. I won't admit that. I needed him. Yes, yes, that's it. I needed him. He was one of the alphas of Umbra. I needed to reign them into our pact. I needed to have them under my thumb. But no. Your father wouldn't let me. No, he never listened. He never did what he was told. Oh no, never, he would never do what I wanted him to. He was selfish and petty. JUST LIKE YOU! ”

“You're wrong! He was stubborn and determined, he was proud and strong, he was a better parent, a better alpha than you were, or will ever be!” He snarled back.

“Ever will be!? EVER WILL BE!? HAH!” She trailed off into a manic laughter that had her double over with a crazed expression. “He can't be a better alpha anymore.”

His expression flinched. She said that with a strange calmness. She said it as if- “No.” he uttered. “No.” he growled. “No!”

She smiled a toothy grin as he was hit with another realization. “Oh yes, yes, I am certain of this task. You are right, we cannot kill as it is our job to guide those dying to the end. But I know someone who can do what we cannot.” Her gaze turned to look up at the man standing beside her daughter with a knowing look. All of their gazes turned to follow; the girl backing away, shaking her head, defensively putting an arm between them. Uru turned to charge up at him before he was interrupted.

“Are you forfeiting? If you are, I shall invoke the law.” She threatened as he turned back to face her. Their eyes met for a glimpse for charging at one another. A loud gasp split the air as the pair of them fell down backwards.


“Uru? Uru, wake up, brother.” A voice called to him, shaking him. His eyes opened to see Brenna at his side with tears in her eyes. With a groan, he pulled himself up, his side in immense pain. Across from him, sprawled on the floor was his mother, and, over her, his uncle checking on her. The man looked at him, shaking his head.

“She's unconscious.” He said as he came to approach. The threatening growl that sent chills down their spines was enough of a warning to not approach any closer, his arm struggling to reach up and huddle his sister closer. He looked at the woman for a moment before lifting up his shirt. Just under his left side was a triskele mark, proof of his victory in the battle and his right to the law invocation. He bit his lower lip as he tried to sit upright. “Uru, listen, I-”

“I should do it, you know.” He uttered. The man taken back. Uru burying his face into his sister's hair, a single golden eye glaring out from her hair – a trait he got from his father. “For what you did, I should do the same to you.”

“Uru, listen.” He urged as he fell to his own knees. “I, I only did it to protect, Brenna.” Uru narrowed his eyes, untrusting of the man as Brenna turned to meet the man's pleading eyes. “S-she's mine, Uru. Brenna is my daughter, not your father's.” He couldn't tell. He couldn't tell if he was lying. His gaze fell down to Brenna who looked to him for answers. This time, he did not have one for her. He never suspected it; his father and uncle being brothers, sharing the same mother, the similarities were there, but he never pieced them together. “She would have killed my only child if I didn't, she offered me herself as my partner, too. I... I was blind. Forgive me.” Uru bit his lip as he closed his eyes. It was how she did everything. She found her way into people and got her way. He held back a sob knowing that his father was not out there. He held back the tears knowing that his father would see them from where he was now. He tilted his head back as he growled, rumbling through them, holding his sister – half-sister tight to his side.

The woman made a noise that drew their attention. She raised herself to sit upright, a hand over his face as she hissed at the pain that radiated from the last blow. Her glare fell to the three of them. “You, brat.” she hissed. Uru did not reply with a glare or growl, he simply raised his shirt to reveal his triskele. “No. NO!”

“I know you cherish your life above all else, Naerina. So here is now it is going to happen.” She motioned to speak when he barked at her. “DO NOT INTERRUPT ME!” He winced and coughed, clutching his side. “You are stepping down as alpha. Brenna will be alpha. Until she is of age, uncle will be acting through her.” The woman bit her lip, holding back a growl knowing what was in store for her. “You, you will leave. The pack cannot help you, and the pack will be loyal to their alpha, which you are no longer.”

“You are not either.” She uttered. “I still have ties, ties to every pack out there.”

“I wonder how you got those 'ties', Naerina. I am sure they will welcome you with open arms after how you got them.” Her voice hitched as she pushed himself away. Her eyes frantically searched Brenna for remorse as her daughter and heir to help her, to the uncle as acting alpha to show her remorse. But she knew, deep down, they could do nothing for her... they wouldn't do anything for her. “I want you out of my sight before I stand up...” Sure enough, the door opened and closed before he was up, helped by his uncle. His head fell forward from pain as he watched the dark movement of his scarf slip from around his neck, landing on the ground in two. The sight alone sent a spiking pain through him. He brushed his uncle aside, relying on his sister's presence to reach down for them. The last remaining heirloom of his father was ruined...


“Brother, are you sure you have to go?” Brenna asked. The trio were standing at the doorway of the manor, the staff (no longer servants) had stopped to also bid their farewell. The girl held onto his hand, looking at his bandaged and bruised form. He gave a silly smile before placing a kiss on her head.

“I have to go. I've been exiled from the pack. I cannot stay here.” Speaking of it made her sister tear up and the staff to turn their gaze. He came to accept it, he will come to accept it. He smiled as he brushed his thumb under her eye, kneeling before her. “Don't cry, Brenna. An alpha shouldn't be crying.”
“I-I promise, I will find a way to have you back. I will study every law and I will find a way, I promise!” Uru nodded with a smile, knowing that she will certainly try. However, he could not raise his hopes for that.

He turned to the uncle with a knowing look who simply nodded back. “I will take care of her.”

Uru nodded, kissing his sister once more before bidding farewell to the family he had, his sister, the estate, the staff, the manor, the Cocytus pack.