Fury

Ancestors

Dedication for DKWilliams9 for her inspiration after a writers block! Love you Big :}

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Mia POV~

At the café my stomach was in a flurry of butterflies. His chestnut curls looked so soft and wild I wanted to run my fingers through it. 

"Maybe give it a tug or two." My beast purred. 

I snorted at her but it didn't stop my thoughts from wondering if she was right. His golden eyes shimmered in the sunlight almost stopping my breathing. Of course I had to hit him with the door. I mean don't all love stories start with a cheesy love scene. 

Well they would if it wasn't me as the leading roll. I rolled my eyes eternally thinking what a cliché it is. My mind couldn't help but wonder if it really could have been more. He seemed so dazed at first, I knew I hadn't closed the door that hard. However, as I watched him study me I couldn't help the blush creeping over my skin. 

My beast purred at his appraising gaze, it was rare for her to peak this much interest in a male unless we were in heat. I could feel my skin warming as if his body was against mine. I imagined his hands leaving a fire in its wake as his spicy cedar scent wrapped around my senses. 

I knew I had a few more weeks before I would have to barricade myself to my room or find a partner for the season. My mind raced at the thought of hiding away with this majestic beast in front of me, his smell both intrigued and confused me.  He was a shifter that much I knew from his size and structure as well as his otherworldly beauty.

The only only thing I could do was walk away as my heart sank when he didn't respond to me. I hid my disappointment in a smile and goodbye as I turned away from him. My heels clicked down the sidewalk as I held my bag with one arm and the coffee with the other.  I was so engrossed in the thoughts surrounding that beautiful man I neglected to stop at the crosswalk.

The horn blared but it was to late, my body jolted to the side as the metal from the car slammed into me. The blur from the sun faded as the dark came over me, my eyes couldn't focus on any one object. My eyes closed on their own as a reaction to the trauma and the commotion faded. 

There was no pain, no city noise or shouting people only quiet. I sighed at the peace I felt in this moment. My mind was a cool flowing stream and my body was floating along with it. It had been a long time since I felt this good, I couldn't be dead could I?

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"Mia girl, wake up! Your going to miss our training!" My body jerked upright at the shrill voice from my past. No way was I back in the Jungle, I haven't been there in years. 

"Taylmia GET UP!" the fur blankets tore from my body, bringing the icy chill to my skin. 

"Damnit Luana" I grunted at her as I sat up rubbing my eyes and shivering. My clothes consisted of a thin night gown just like the rest of our clan. The night shades they were called, a band of mostly women and very few men. 

As we had been taught for the last year about our traditions and rituals. When boys became men and girls women, they would be sent out into the land to find a mate. Should they return they were permitted to stay but few males would return with their mates unless they were lower class or given permission from their leaders. 

Many females returned alone and pregnant, they had chose a suitable male to impregnate them during the heat, hence why we are a majority female clan. The boys born would go out into bachelor groups and rarely returned as they followed different paths for themselves or attempted to start their own pride.  

Starting their training when they are old enough to speak, the young ones learn all about our ancestry and the ritual to follow to receive the gift of a spirit animal. Our origin dates back to the Native American tribes and how they were a part of the earth. They were one with nature and all forms of life had their respect and purpose. 

In order for us to receive our animal counterparts we had to undergo a ritual with the undercrow caverns. These dark and deep pools of water are found in the cave behind the swallana waterfalls. Only during a blue moon or blood moon can we enter the caves and into the pools. 

"Mia, if you make us late for Jusana's lesson I openly blame you." Luana all but shouted as she pinched my bare thigh. I swatted her hand and got up stetching my arms and arching my back. Sleeping on the small wooden cot was still better than the rat infested floors of the brothels. 

I shivered, unsure if it was the chill in the air or my nightmarish memories creeping in.  I shook my head clearing the thoughts and smiled down at Lu. I was taken in by the Nightshade clan after I basically rose from the dead and one of the elders found me wondering in the woods. 

At first I was terrified, there were animals everywhere. I thought I may have stumbled onto a circus with all the bears, tigers, and lions I witnessed. Marda had laughed at me so hard she was in tears when I asked her. I was then deemed a novice, equivalent to the new kid in school, the outsider. 

Pulling on my sneakers and sweat pants paired with a light shirt I met Lu at the door. I called it a door but it was more like an opening in the tent. Our brown or white tents were made from tanned animal hides, mostly those of the natural born species. Of course I am sure some of them were enemy as well, Lu made the joke once that "sleeping with the enemy" saying originated here. 

We met with Jusana just in time for her to tsk at us taking our seats in the second row of cross-legged students.  She told us how our ancestors would spend 3 nights and days preparing for the shifter ritual.  

From prayer to dances, to wading into the pools. The final step would be submersion under water inside the caverns. They claimed you were reborn in your bodies with a new soul. Based on our own experiences or personalities the animal counterparts will choose us. 

Wolves where known to be loyal and aggressive, Bears brave and territorial, tigers are fierce and protective. She went on to name each species qualities and my interest started to wain. 

"The Eagle is a noble and majestic creature who prides himself in overseeing all of our lives. The lion however is as close to our mother earth and father sky as we can get." My ears pricked up on their own accord when I heard her mention lions.

I scooted forward giving her my full attention, although I wasn't quiet sure why. " The lioness are the heart of a pride, we provide for family and produce the next generation with love. Our qualities are exceptional, we can choose to stand alone our with others against a male. We have the freedom others cannot, and have the fierceness of an entire clan in a single roar. We command attention but enjoy solitude. We are the perfect balance of power and submission."  Jusana continued on with other descriptions of species but my mind raced with thoughts of the lions I had seen throughout the clan. 

Each shifter I met had something special about them, rarely did they inner breed but with our clan we didn't produce heirs that were born shifters like the others I had heard of. I never understood the reasoning behind it and was scared to push further after the last time I asked and the bear had to be tranquilized before she killed me. She claimed I insulted her ancestor and children, I didn't know how when I had only asked a question that had seemed so simple to me. 

When the lesson had finished Luana and I were assigned to run the perimeter, as she explained our human bodies needed to be strong enough to support the change if we were chosen. While on the run I decided to ask "Luana are you sure we should do this? I mean are you ready to meet your death or if we are lucky our spirit animals?"

She slowed to a jog beside me as she shook her head huffing " yes I am sure we should do this, I mean only a few have never resurfaced from the pools. Mostly those hellbent on revenge or other selfishness" She shrugged unbothered and picked up her sprinting. My brain stung from the new information, I couldn't understand how she was so casual about it. 

I finished the run with a few minutes to spare so I stopped by Marda's tent for advice. She had become a second mother to me and I was close as I could ever be to one again. Although she was well old enough to be a great grandmother, I would never voice this allowed however. 

"Mia darling, come in. It has been to long since our last chat." Marda's voice carried through the closed flap. She always knew my whereabouts before I could speak.  I visited her more than twice a week so her jest of not seeing me always made me smile. 

Clearing my throat I stepped through the flap and gave her my small smile. She met me in a few short strides, ever so graceful as she pulled me into a warm hug. I breathed in her ginger smell as her brown curls brushed my cheeks. 

"My child what troubles you." She asked pulling away from the embrace to take my hands in hers. I sighed and looked down to our fingers how do I tell the woman who saved me from myself that I was scared to die.

"I am just worried about the ritual, I am nervous my counterpart will not accept me." I opened my emotions to her as I would my mother. She knew me inside and out more than I knew myself. She was my rock since she found me and always reminded me of the will I had to survive. 

"My sweet Taylmia, there shouldn't be any worries. Not when I know you will be accepted by the most glorious creature. Your will is strong and your heart is pure, now rest child the time is approaching fast." Marda smoothed my hair as she hugged me close once more. 

~~

"Miss, miss can you hear me?" A deep voice rumbled against my sides as I tried to force myself awake. Murmurs surrounded me as I focused my hearing. My eyes opened and instinct took over in covering them. 

I groaned and felt warm skin under my neck and a hand on my cheek. Still shielding my eyes I woke up to find the purest green eyes staring at me in concern. I yelped and pushed at him scooting away, only to be pulled back. 

"Let me go!" I all but shouted as I continued to shove at his chest and arms. 

"Calm down miss, you were just struck by a vehicle. You need to lie still until I check you for a concussion or worse a fractured spine." He calmly replied with his hands gently holding me. 

I breathed heavily and held my head as it pounded against my skull. His eyes were so familiar it startled old memories. I felt lost and out of control, my heart hammered against my ribs in panic. I wasn't sure if I was dreaming still, a new nightmare was coming in or if I was back in the city.

 He looked just like Tom, his green eyes often haunted me. I blamed him for my capture for many years.  But that would be impossible since it had been over a century since his death. When I had came into the city the first thing I had done was look him up. My idea was for revenge, I had wanted to rip him limb from limb. Only to find he had died of a heart attack in his 40's.  I forced myself to calm down and breath deeply. 

"Deep breaths for me, In out, in out. Good, that's great miss. I think you may have a concussion but there doesn't seem to be any signs of internal bleeding or bone fractures. I say you were very lucky to be alive after that impact." I allowed the stranger to help me to my feet and steady my stance. 

"I um thanks." I mumbled still a little lost in my thoughts. I hadn't thought of Tom in years and this revelation was like I was being drowned in ice water, then ran over by a freight train.

"I'm Taylor. What's your name miss?" He asked as he still had a hand on my arm. 

"Mia." I managed a small smile as I risked another look into his eyes. Those tortuous memories attempted to make another appearance so I looked around at the group of people surrounding us as a distraction. 

"Mia, I think you should come to the hospital with me for an evaluation to make sure your okay. I'm the on call physician at Catacurn Memorial." He pulled me from the sidewalk and sat us down on a corner bench. 

I gave him a reassuring smile "Oh, no its okay I feel fine really I must get going. I have a meeting soon and I cannot miss it." I stood up to leave when he followed me. 

"Here, at least take my card. I would like to see that you are okay. Maybe set an appointment to let me evaluate you." He smiled at me as he handed me his card. I looked down to his outstretched hand and back into his eyes. 

"Oh, um okay." I took his card and slipped it into my purse as I turned away from him in a hurry. I needed to get as far from him as possible to keep my nightmares at bay. 

He called out to me " I hope to hear from you soon miss Mia." 

I waved over my shoulder being careful to watch my surroundings. My coffee was ruined as was my confidence. I was sure if a reporter was in the vicinity I would be in the news for a hit and run story. I rolled my eyes at the blatant nosiness in this town.  I felt my day was already a mess and couldn't get any worse. 

Finally making it to my office I rushed by the front desk flashing my badge and a few curt hellos as I practically ran to the elevator. My office couldn't come fast enough as I tapped my foot in the steel box waiting for my floor. I growled under my breath in annoyance as the terrible music played and the bouncy blonde secretary next to me hummed along. 

I wanted to throat punch her to stifle the noise from her vocal cords. I needed to go for a run soon, my inner beast was pacing at all my emotions swirling around in my mind. We couldn't grasp and settle one before another rampaged through my brain. 

When I was back in the Nightshades I had Marda to curve my moods or to seek advice for me. I let my thoughts wonder back to my weird flashback dream after the car hit me earlier. I missed my clan more, my beast whined in acknowledgement. 

I didn't realize the doors had opened until my secretary's voice me me " Agent Reaux? Everything alright?" I shook my thoughts away and nodded to her as I stepped out headed to my office. 

"Oh agent?! Your 9 am is in the conference room, they have been waiting for a while now." She nodded to the left and I groaned. I hadn't looked at the time to notice how very late I was half past 9 am.  

"Let them know I will be right in." I moved to the side hoping to finally make it to my office for a breather. I needed to get myself together before I messed up this case and broke a heart that was already struggling. 

I learned a long time ago that you had to leave your baggage at the door when you walked through the lobby and pick  it up on the way home. Closing my office, I took deep breaths and closed my eyes focusing on my beast as she paced in my mind. Her agitation was my agitation, we needed to be at ground zero and focused. 

I pictured a field, bright sun and a cool breeze. My fur swaying like the grass under our paws, my senses breathing in the crisp and clean air. My pride roaring low and happy in the background as I watched my cubs playing in a tree trunk. 

Opening my eyes I felt at peace, I took another breath and moved to my desk to gather the files I needed to put together for this meeting. Mr. Arceneaux was a jerk the first time but after his apology and I studied his behavior I understood he was just a broken angry soul. 

I felt a connection and my inner revenge spiked. My beast growled in want for blood and we would focus and find this girl if only to save him from becoming like us. A broken mess of emotions and closed off wanting. 

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