Wings of Grace

Chapter 9

The moon was beginning to come out of its dark phase, and this provided some cover of protection for the “raiders”.

Each of the crew wore some form of disguise as further protection against being identified.

They had predetermined that each of their rowboats would carry two crew members – one to unload the goods from the ship’s carrier and one to keep an eye on the sailor operating that boat.

Antoine had told them to only confiscate a portion of each load. By doing this, their takings would still be costly and obviously noticed, yet the sailors wouldn’t face as severe a punishment as they would if they lost everything on board with which they were entrusted to take to shore.

The operation went smoothly as each laded craft neared one of Antoine’s boats, the crew would slip alongside, do what was pre- planned, then send the sailor on ahead with what remianed of his cargo. This scene was performed repeatedly until all the ship’s carrier boats had been “lightened”.

No fights occurred, no actual violence was necessary, and each of the small fleets went their separate ways.

Antoine had told Luna that, while he and the crew were away, she was to lock herself in his castle for protection, and she obeyed his order.

She heard a voice calling her name, not his but another familiar voice. SilverGlade was reporting that there was an extremely urgent matter at hand, and would she come out to talk with him.

Against her better judgement, she unbolted the door and went outside. Silver put on as innocent-looking face as he could muster up as he told her, “There’s been trouble! Antoine and his crew have been captured -caught in the act- and he has been injured!”

One thing that was true it was taking longer than anticipated and none of the crew had arrived home yet. Silver had never lied to her that she knew of. So, was he being truthful this time? Luna’s loyalty to Antoine made her follow Silver as he motioned for her to come along with him.

Meanwhile Antoine and his crew had brought their treasures ashore and were in the process of dividing the spoils so to speak. They had successful and unnoticed and took their time to enjoy chatting among themselves, knowing all was safe at home.

At long last the adventure was over and the crew headed home. Where was Luna now? He had not seen her for several hours and began to downright worry about her. She was so independent, a free spirit as such now.had she intentionally left him, or had she wandered off and consequently met with some ill fate?

He missed her voice, her smile, her sparkling eyes, even the incessant dance for no particular reason at all. He confessed to himself how much he really did miss her! She had become a vital part of his life now… a very vital part. At first he had only reluctantly included her in his risky ventures, only to discover how competent she could be…and now she was gone. But where? Was she in danger that she couldn’t handle by herself? He had to find her. He just had to!

Seeing how disturbed Antoine was, the fennec confided in him about a possible answer—some time ago he had heard Silver mutter to himself something about setting up his own lab so he could get all the credit, honor, and glory for the successful experiments he would perform. Could he have take Luna for this very purpose? “Wasn’t there something special about her blood?” the fennec asked. Antoine didn’t stop to answer; without further delay he rebuckled his scabbard belt with sword and headed out the door as fast as he could. If they hadnt left too long ago, maybe he could catch them. After all, hadnt he always been the fastest runner? Isn’t that how he got to be here in the first place?

He had to find them before they reached Silver’s castle, or it would be forever to late to rescue his precious one.

Antoine ran as fast as he ever did and spied the pair just short of the castle. Shouting for Luna to get out of the way, he lunged at Silver with all his strength. Silver saw him coming and drawing his own weapon, he readied himself. This surely would be the fight to the finish, he figured.

The two duelers were equally matched with each delivering blow and in turn, warding off those of his apponent. First the fight favored one, then the other. But one of them had planned something dirty and unfair…

Silver transformed into his werewolf form, and with a rather loud a viscous roar, he lunged at Antoine again and started to get the upper hand.

Seeing her love losing was more than what Luna could handle, and she could feel her own transformation, she grew to about seven foot tall, grey and white fur rippled and shown over her body, her fangs grew longer and sharpened, baring and ready. This creature now glared at Antoine and Silver with her hypnotizing fiery-red eyes that could probably have set them both ablaze if it so chose.

Both Antoine and Silver stopped fighting immediately and starred at this horrible creature towering over both of them, not really knowing

What to do next, or if there was a chance to do anything before it attacked both of them. Neither had ever witnessed anything like this, and they were both memorized by this image before them.

Silver took a step back, but his weak legs went out from under him; and he fell to the ground, hitting his head on a rosk rendering him unconscious. Luna’s shape started to returning to normal size and fatures which a grateful Antoine now recognized.

“im so glad you told me about your form-changes.” He said as he laughed nervously, still gasping to catch his breath, “otherwise I might have been the one on the ground out cold instead of Silver. I never figured on being saved by a female.”

“Just another one of our duties.” Luna smiled as she turned and disappeared into the crowd which had gathered.

When Silver woke, he found himself staring up at a pair of lawmen who were, in turn, glaring down at him.

The sheriff’s handcuffs barely fit round the lycan-wolf paws, and that caused a bit of struggle to get the cuffs clamped shut. Several of the sheriff’s assistants had been called in to accompany him, just in case their sevices were needed to escort Silver to jail.

There, along with his co-workers from tech lab, human and or otherwise, would await a fair trial…which was more than what was given to the prisoners that had been captured for experimental purposes at the hands of Silver and the so called doctors.

So SilverGlade was sent to prison for both k********g and for the experiments he performed. His human co-worked were also jailed along with him for their cruelty to the animal world. The tech lab itself had been blown up years ago, so there was no need to worry about that.

Shadow, her family and others living at Silver’s castle continued to stay there and care for the property.

Antoine realized he couldn’t take care of his ownings by himself and so offered for several of the still-homeless creatures to come, live in the castle, and be part of his staff. They were more then happy to do so for the one who had shown them so much kindness.

“As for Luna,” the old cat whispered in the direction of the pups, “Antione asked her to be his mate for life and of course she said yes and moved into his home. Sometime later they were blessed with a set of twins, a boy and a girl, which made the pair even happier.

The cat glanced over at the four pups, now sound asleep in their beds. How much of this story they had heard… she did not know, but she leaned back in her chair, smiled, and dreamed of what used to be…