So Far Gone (Raphael/Open)

[Nathaniel Knight]

Raphael G. Mattias

So this is what hell must be like...came the passing thought as Nate found himself wandering through the all forest, skirting the edge of the park as he did so. It was becoming harder to think ever since that cursed beast had bitten him. How long ago had that been...two weeks...maybe three...he'd since lost count. What did it matter now, that monster had infected him with this disease and now he had to fight the beast from taking over his mind. The wolf part of him wanted to be free to run and cause mayhem and bay at the moon's beautiful glow. Nate had denied the wolf this however and was determined to fight it but with every passing day...no, every passing moment it was becoming clear that he was fighting a losing battle. There were moments when Nate was certain the wolf would break free, take over his mind and leave nothing behind but a monster, a creature of the night that deserved nothing less than death. Had it not been for his desire to catch the monster who had destroyed his home and his family, Nate would've ended it long ago.

Why he had ended up in England of all places, Nate himself couldn't tell you. There were better places to go, ones more familiar to him but they held too many memories of Clarissa. Perhaps that was why Nate had come to this place, to escape his past only to be haunted by his future as the wolf continued to press against his mind. It was becoming more insistent lately and from what lore he knew of concerning werewolves, Nate guessed it was because the full moon was approaching. Had he known that the moon in question would rise tonight he would have sequestered himself in his room and hoped for the best. At least that way Nate wouldn't have to worry about the possibility of hurting people just like that monster had done to his family. Visions of seeing his beloved Clarissa cut down before him still haunted him. As for the rest of his family, in all the chaos Nate didn't know if they had managed to survive. All he knew was that there had been a lot of blood and it would have been a miracle if anyone had managed to survive that.

Before Nate realized it, the sun had finished its decent and the first stars had come out to play. Night was always worse when it came to fighting the beast that wanted to lay claim to his mind but tonight...tonight was different. The wolf had become more insistent lately but this was nothing like the other times. Never before had Nate felt such excruciating pain as the wolf within him howled in his mind, knowing that its time had come at long last. There was no fighting it this time, Nate knew that much and try as he might he simply couldn't keep it from surfacing as any further attempts at stopping the inevitable seemed to amuse the wolf. It was as if it was laughing at the pathetic human for trying to control it in the first place, no...there was no taming this beast...that much was all too clear.

The change that took place thereafter was excruciating...it felt like fire had taken the place of the blood that normally rushed through his veins. Claws extended, eliciting a pained yell from Nate as he vainly tried to stop whatever was happening to him. No force of will would control the beast though, not now on the night of the full moon. All Nate could do was relinquish control to the beast in hopes that the pain would ease at least some. The moment that he finally gave in, the wolf took over, wild and ready to run to the ends of the earth. No longer was it chained to bend to the will of the mere human who had fought against it. No, he was finally free of all bonds and nobody was going to stop him.

Now that the transformation was complete, the wolf bayed at the moon, howling for the first time. Even if Nate had fought against the wolf for so long, he couldn't help but feel...alive...more so than he had in a long time. He wanted to run, to fight, to do everything and anything all at once but that was impossible, even the wolf knew that. Instead, Nate decided on running and dashed off into the forest, avoiding the park lest any of the lesser humans should see him. The wolf laughed at this, believing himself to be invulnerable to any attack petty humans could do but acquiesced nevertheless and ran as far and as fast as he could. Little did Nate know that the direction he was going was heading closer to a more domesticated area...and straight into trouble.

[Raphael G. Mattias]

The Harley Davidson CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide sped past the much slower traffic as Raphael Giovanni Mattias, the youngest of the three Mattias brothers, almost effortlessly weaved his way through on his journey. The huge Twin Cam 110 engine effortlessly catapulted the cruiser to Raphael's desired speed. If he were human he may have passed out from the g-forces that were levied against him. But Raphael was no mere human. He was much more. A lycan. His body was stronger. His sight, smell, and hearing more than twice as sensitive. His reflexes and agility unmatched by even the most gifted human athlete.

Raphael was angry. He'd been forced to postpone his final year at his college and reschedule it for next year due to the needs of his family. If that was not bad enough, Mitchel ordered him to turn his Harley in to the motor pool at the mansion and instead travel by car. Yeah, he had his choice of vehicle, but he loved his motorcycle. It was freedom in its purest form. His cruiser was like an extension of himself. Sexy, Fast, and Agile. He lived to ride. To have that wind in his face. To be free of the constraints of traffic if he so chose to. And best of all, any girl who rode with him, and they all wanted a ride, had to get close and personal since the only thing to hold on to was Raphael himself. He smirked as he thought of this. But the smile was replaced again by a frown soon after. All this was lost to paranoia. Not that he didn't believe that the assassination attempt took place. But he really didn't feel he needed a bodyguard. He'd been ordered by his father to retain one, so there was nothing he could do but comply.

The whole family seemed to have been called in to be debriefed on what had occurred. First to arrive was Raphael of course. He'd just gone on summer break and was on his way to spend time in Europe. He had many favorite spots in a few different countries he wanted to revisit. He just took the new tunnel under the English channel from France and was there within a few days. He was still reeling from the events that greeted his after being away for two years at college. Hit brother Leon and half sister Gwendonlyn.... He shook his head to clear his mind of those thoughts. He really didn't want to think about that right now. Raphael went back to his original line of thinking.

The next to arrive was Michelangelo. He'd flown in from Italy with his family, and due to that did not arrive until a few days after Raphael. By then Gwen and Leon were gone. So there would be no full scale family reunion. Gwen was in Italy visiting mother's mom. Raphael knew that Mitchel sent her away with Carmella as bodyguard. He hoped that she would be safe out of the country. All Gwen knew was that grandmother in-law missed her and wanted her to visit. Leon was supposed to be with Gwen, at least seeing her to grandmother's house, but reported that he had an urgent business matter to attend to in Spain. Still, it was nice to see Mikey, Celestine, and Alice again. Had it been a whole two years?.. His niece had grown so much since he last saw her. She was what?... 4 now?. 'She is so darn cute! Ali's going to be quite the looker.' He thought with pride. It was obvious that the Mattias gene pool only allowed for handsome men and gorgeously cute women. Even Gwendolyn who was half Mattias was adorable.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he never noticed he'd subconsciously took a turn to put him on the road that divides the public forest from the land owned by the Mattias family. It wasn't till he saw the shadowed figure that darted across the road almost a half mile ahead of him that his thoughts came back to the here and now. The only reason he'd even saw it was due to the full moon in the cloudless sky above. It was large and fast. Raphael was traveling at 125mph and came up to the spot where he saw it rather quickly. He slowed quickly, the custom over-sized brakes taking the Harley to zero in mere seconds without a skid. He slowly looked left to right along the fence line. The 6foot fence and barbed wire atop it was in pristine condition, having been well maintained and free of weeds or other brush. He saw nothing, but the hairs on the back of his neck quickly stood rigid as his nose told him different.

A werewolf had crossed here, and it had gone over the fence. Probably clearing it with a jump. “Bloody hell!!” He couldn't help but shout. None of the other lycan locals would dare. The fence was clearly posted with private property, No trespassing, and no Hunting signs. On top of that, their father, the family Alpha Mitchel made sure to “mark” the perimeter on a regular basis. Hell, Raphael could smell it even now, and there was no mistaking it. No other werewolf who wanted to live beyond the next few hours would dare cross into marked territory unless it was to do battle. It was a declaration of war if the wolf in question was part of a pack. Were they under attack? Had Raphael only seen the very last of a whole pack attacking?

Pulling off his helmet and slamming it into the ground, Raphael touched the blue-tooth device in his ear. “Emergency. Level 1” He said, putting his cruiser on kickstand. The phone barely rang a fraction of a ring before the Mattias security monitor room picked up. 'Master Raphael. Perimeter breach code received. Are you able to speak?' The voice asked as Raphael went about peeling off his riding leathers.
“Regie. I'm fine". He responded recognizing the voice. "West perimeter breached. Fence section 1439. I only saw and smelled one, as I drove up on it. Its a werewolf. Possible there may be more than one, and its heading towards the Mansion. Lock her down and get me some help. I'm going after them!” Raphael instructed. “Understood and motion sensors only picking up the one, sir” was the simple reply before Raphael ended the call and threw his blue-tooth down.

Anger fueled his transformation and he exploded out of what little clothes he had left and into his wolf form. There was always pain due to the medications that were supposed to prevent the transformation unintentionally, but he didn't care about that. Raphael was already irritated and angry to begin with. It was not difficult to get into a rage that allowed him to overcome his medications. Raphael let out a short howl and bark, then lept over the fence and after the intruder. His family was in danger. Mitchel was away so it was just the security sentries, staff, Nadia, and Michelangelo's family. That family included little Alice, and Raphael didn't know if she was inside or outside playing. The thought of whatever werewolf coming across her was all the motivation he needed. Raphael would stop him. Alone, if he had to. He would buy the others the time they needed to converge. That intruder better have a hell of an explanation or he would die. It was lycan law.

[Nathaniel Knight]

The wolf was in full control at this point, running anywhere and everywhere he could. The fence had thus far been the only barrier, and though it reeked of the scent of another lycan, Nate frankly didn't care. A little running leap was all it took to defeat such a measly defense, the signs warning off trespassing completely ignored. The wolf simply didn't care about the signs weak humans put up, in fact, he relished the challenge scaling any obstacle would bring. Now that the wolf was unchained, free to roam wherever he pleased he had become almost cocky. Thus, even the scent of another lycan didn't scare the new werewolf away, in fact, it had only served to make Nate curious as to what other lycans were in the area.

The roar of the motorcycle was easy enough to catch with Nate's enhanced hearing along with a few snippets of what the man was saying. Not that the wolf cared about what trouble may or may not be headed their way. It was just another challenge to overcome after all and right then, the beast felt as if he could take on the world. Nothing was going to stop him, not tonight; the night was his to do as he pleased and no mere humans were going to stop him. The crash of the helmet hitting the ground elicited an amused growl from the wolf as he continued running. He could smell prey now and wanted to hunt, yearned for the thrill of the chase that only hunting could bring.

The scent of rabbit was caught fairly quickly thereafter while the man the wolf had assumed to be human was still far off. All the different sights and smells were still new to the wolf after all and he wanted to explore every inch of this place before the night was over. Besides, the man was still a long ways off and didn't appear to be an immediate threat, there was surely time to hunt down the rabbit that he'd caught the scent of. Dismissing the 'human' as a threat, the wolf bounded after the rabbit, catching its prey in a matter of seconds. It was disappointing how quickly the rabbit was caught really, but this thought was quickly dismissed as the wolf bit down, ending his prey's vane struggle. Not wasting any time, the wolf bit down into the tender flesh, devouring it as quickly as he could before the tell tale howl of another werewolf reached his ears. Hunting time was now over apparently, now it was time to fight and the wolf relished the chance to test its strength against another like him.

Blood dripped from the wolf's mouth as he turned to face his approaching opponent, hackles already raised as he crouched. He would wait for this other wolf, ready and eager to fight whomever may appear. The wolf had already spilled the blood of his first prey and the evidence of the kill was still at his feet, all but stripped down to the bones. Now however, the wolf was looking for new prey, one that would put up more of a fight than the measly snack of a rabbit had. The other wolf was fast approaching, that was all too clear...he could almost smell the anger coming from the other lycan and uttered a low growl, giving away his position in the process.

What Raphael would see upon finding Nate was far from the leader of a pack. There was only madness in the wolf's eyes in that moment, if there ever had been a man underneath the fierce glare the lycan gave, he was certainly not the one in control. All that was left was feral instinct and right then, instinct was telling the wolf that Raphael was his new prey. Crouching low as the other lycan approached, the wolf gave a fierce barking growl before making to tackle Raphael, going for the throat as instinct told him to do.

[Raphael G. Mattias]

The intruder had a good lead on Raphael so he pushed himself to his limits to try to catch up. No, there was not “try” he “must” stop him. As he ran he used every advantage he could. He knew where the brush would be thinest and where any obstacles that would slow him were He and his brothers played in these woods as children and he knew the lay of the land. He rebounded off of boulders, trees and roots, pushing with all his might to gain as much speed and ground as he could. He knew it was dangerous, for stopping on a dime would be impossible, but he had no choice. In the back of his mind he wondered what Mitchel, his father, would say. He was against “going wolf” so to speak. But Raphael had no choice. There was no way to catch the intruder in human form. Besides, Raphael liked going wolf. He did it for fun while away at college. There was allot of woodlands nearby the campus and he was always careful never to be discovered.

He emerged through the brush to find the other wolf in a low crouch waiting for him in a small clearing. Raphael barked a curse. There was no time to stop as his enemy gave a fierce barking growl and sprung at Raphael. He could see the angle and knew the enemy was going for his neck. Raphael had enough control over his wolf form that he was able to keep instinct of meeting that attack head on at bey and use his training instead. With a snarl, he put his head down to take away the intended target area and used his momentum and speed to literally bowl over his opponent as he twisted to hit the other wolf with a broadside of his body. He tumbled once on impact and quickly regained his footing, turning to face the other wolf. He knew he'd just bough himself time. Neither of them would be hurt with this.

Raphael psyched himself up to stay angry. If he calmed at all he would weaken as the meds fought to make him take his human form once more. This was his packs territory. The other was the intruder. He held his tail up in dominance, even as his forelegs lowered his head as he stretched back in a ready to attack crouch. What he saw as he gazed at his opponent nearly unnerved him. He stared into the eyes of the intruder and did not see intelligence behind the feral eyes gazing back. The wolf looked native, not were. But the scent was unmistakable. This wolf before him was indeed a lycan. There was blood around his muzzle but the scent of rabbit carcass to the left of the mongrel told Raphael that it was just that and not his niece. This knowledge kept Raphael from immediately counter attacking. Raphael's hackles were raised and his ears tall and slightly pushed to the sides to show his anger. His lips were pulled back tight to expose his teeth and he growled a warning and then barked out a challenge. He made it clear that the ambush had failed and that a real battle awaited his enemy should he fail to back down and submit.

Raphael had succeeded in stopping the intruder just shy of he half-way mark to the Mansion. The bulk of the security staff would not leave the mansion but take strategic positions around it. He wondered how many would come to meet the threat head on. He would know soon enough. They would be in route. Any taking wolf form would howl to make themselves known.

[Nathaniel Knight]

The fact that his attack had failed was not lost on the wolf and only served to enrage him all the more. How the other lycan had managed to read his actions, the wolf didn't know and frankly didn't care. It simply was dumb luck, that was all...though perhaps if he hadn't announced his presence by the growl he might have been able to end this little fight. Whatever the case it seemed their dance had only just began as the other lycan turned the tables on him and used his increased momentum to barrel into him, causing him to lose his balance and send him careening into a tree. A yelp sounded from Nate as an especially sharp branch caught him , cutting him deeply before he turned to face the other lycan who was already crouching getting ready to attack.

Though it was true that the counterattack of sorts by itself wouldn't have hurt the new werewolf, the impact against the tree had hurt more than Nate was willing to admit. Thankfully, being a lycan gave him increased healing abilities and the wound was already beginning to close. Still, a little pain wasn't about to stop Nate and after pausing for a brief moment-a second at most-he once again dashed towards Raphael only to bite at his ear and then jump away much like a playful puppy would.

The tactic was only meant to confuse but the more rational part of Nate hoped that it would lower this lycan's guard, even if it was for just a fraction of a second. The position Raphael's tail was in certainly wasn't lost on Nate as he circled around again, staying just out of the other lycan's reach. It would seem for all the world as if Nate was just an overgrown wolf pup if not for the feral aggressiveness in his eyes, one that belied any playful act he might be attempting. A low growl of his own escaped from Nate in reply to Raphael's own warning growl.

If it had not been for the challenge afterwards, Nate might have continued the puppy pretense. Instead, a more angry, fierce growl escaped the new wolf as he turned the teasing motions into more offensive ones. Circling around again, Nate charged at Raphael and made as if he was going for his neck once again but instead jumped over him. Using his combined momentum, Nate twisted in mid-air and made to land on top of the other lycan and latch onto him with a ferocity that only a combination of anger, adrenaline, and the desire to kill his prey could accomplish. The only thing the wolf's mind was to kill this other lycan that had challenged it. One thing was for sure, Nate wasn't about to back down from a challenge, his pride simply wouldn't allow it. This lycan wanted a fight? Well then...that was exactly he would get...

[Raphael G. Mattias]

'What the bloody hell!' Was all Raphael could think for the second time in as many minutes as he braced himself for another attack. He was confused. Unable to figure out the wolf bearing down on him. He'd blocked the first attack and recovered victorious as he had no injuries. The other wolf however, injured himself on a jutting tree branch in the exchange. His yelp told Raphael that Nate took a puncture wound. The resulting red on his fur being the proof of the injury. Even as Raphael took a stance of dominance, the wolf before him seemed to turn playful. His tail dropping with a slight crook to it and his ears back. It was what kept Raphael from reacting when Nate lunged forward and nipped at his ear before retreating with head low and rump up.

Playful or not, he'd not submitted to Raphael's dominance. His eyes still showed defiance, so Raph growled and barked his challenge anyway. It was like flipping a switch. Nates tail straightened and leveled. His lips curled back to show teeth again and he circled. Raphael snarled another warning only to have the wolf lunge at him again with his eyes focused on Raphael's neck once more. Raphael shifted to meet this new attack head on, but was caught unprepared for what happened next. Raph was low to the ground and about to spring forward when the other wolf seemed to pull a Jordan on him and just floated over him.

Raphael craned his head to see the other wolf twisting to position himself to land on him. There was no time for a counterattack or much of a reaction. All Raphael could do was fall sideways as the other wolf landed on him and used Nate's kinetic force to help push Raph out of the way, yet off balance, while at the same time throwing Nate off balance himself.

Raphael accepted the bite to his shoulder, but it was not solid since he'd been pushed away. Skin tore as the sharp teeth bit in and was ripped away before the teeth could sink deep enough to damage muscle. Raphael stifled a yelp with a snarl as he landed on his side. The momentum turned him on his back and Raphael instinctively kicked out with his hind paws to ward off any attack before scrambling back to his feet in a low crouch.

While he was livid he still had the sense to know there was something wrong. He'd never had a wolf act like that. Yet his doubts and questions would have to wait. Raphael could not afford to show any more restraint. He'd just barely escaped major injury to his shoulder, which may have proven fatal in a drawn out fight. As his shoulder fur matted with blood before it clotted closed, he tried to take advantage of any possible hesitation on his foe's part. Raphael sprung and went for a leg. He needed to slow this other wolf down.

[Nathaniel Knight]

When the wolf realized that he had succeeded in making the other lycan drop his guard, he couldn't help but feel just a little cocky. The playful puppy act had certainly done the trick and lowered Raphael's guard as it had been designed to do. Well...that was only partially true, some part of the wolf had wanted to play but at the same time, the other lycan had issued a challenge. That challenge was simply too big to ignore and the new lycan's pride wouldn't allow him to simply back down and be submissive. No, this was his night and he was going to take down this foolish challenger one way or the other. To say that the wolf was cocky was an understatement and, as they say, pride comes before the fall and the new werewolf was certainly not an exception. After jumping over the other werewolf, Nate simply hadn't expected Raphael to react as quickly and that in and of itself led to his downfall.

Really it had been foolish to believe that he could best the other werewolf but right then the new lycan truly believed he was invincible. So what if he had gotten hurt, that had been a fluke if nothing else...or that was what the wolf kept telling himself. The tree branch had simply been there at the perfect time for it to hurt him when he had lost his balance, just dumb luck...that's all it was. This line of thinking was what drove the wolf to take a chance and try once again to catch Raphael off guard as he twisted mid-air to land on the offender, leaving little time, if any, for a counter attack. Teeth latched onto skin, tearing at the other wolf's shoulder in an attempt to incapacitate, or at least wound, Raphael. What Nate hadn't expected however was the fact that Raphael had anticipated his actions and used his own momentum against him thus effectively knocking him off balance. As a result, Nate hadn't been able to injure Raphael as much as he would have liked and was kicked off before he could do anything else.

Scrambling to his feet after being kicked off, the new lycan growled a challenge even as he spit out the fur and skin he had managed to rip of Raphael's shoulder. There was no hesitation in Nate's eyes, only pure rage at having been thwarted from landing what might have been the finishing blow. Unfortunately for the new werewolf, his near success had made him underestimate Raphael and the training he had received. What was pure instinct for the wolf had been learned, Raphael knew what to look for and how to counter and that was something he did not know. Crouching once more in an attempt to go for the neck once more, Nate didn't expect Raphael to act so quickly and gave a yelp that quickly turned into a barking snarl as the other lycan succeeded in latching onto a leg and making him fall as a result. Not wasting any time, Nate bit at Raphael, trying to get him to let go but it was becoming all too clear that he was fighting a losing battle.

Even still, the defiance in the new lycan's eyes never once faltered as he tried once again to latch onto Raphael's neck in an effort to turn the tide of the battle. He simply couldn't lose, this night was his after all and like hell he was going to die on his first night of freedom. Unfortunately, fate seemed to be against the new lycan in that moment as Nate's own consciousness resurfaced. Teeth let go of Raphael immediately as a more intelligent light appeared in the wolf's eyes enough to realize what he was doing. Perhaps it was the knowledge that he might die that awakened Nate once again that was enough to push the wolf back. Whatever the case, in those few moments, Nate relaxed completely, panting as a soft whine escaped from him, beseeching the other lycan for help. This only lasted a few seconds at best before Nate's consciousness was once again pushed back and feral rage returned to the wolf's eyes as he struggled vainly to win this fight and latched onto Raphael once again in a last show of defiance.

[Raphael G. Mattias]

Rafael`s jaws clamped closed before the other wolf could pull his right foreleg away. His teeth passed through fur, into skin and settled into the muscle. The other wolf yelped and Raphael eased up then. He could have bitten all the way to the bone, and crushed it to make that injury severe, but did not. Unlike a regular wolf, a werewolf`s jaws were much stronger. The other wolf barked and snarled and bit at Raphael`s neck, but at the angle Nate was biting, he could not get to the vital neck muscles, arteries, or wind-pipe. The flesh tearing was painful but Raph did not release his bite. Raphael gave a yank and brought the other wolf down.
The other wolf released his purchase upon impact and Raphael looked sideways at him. Nate's eyes were still defiant as he tried for Raph`s neck again. The lycan bit down on Raphael's neck again, and this time he got a good hold. Raph whimpered and growled. He had no choice, he would have to cripple the other wolf or risk serious injury himself. Raph shock his head to try to get the other wolf off, and to tear into that shoulder as he bit down harder. He'd make that leg unusable before releasing and falling back. He hoped the damage to his neck would not also cripple him. Blood surged out around Raphs muzzle. He'd hit an artery in the other wolfs leg, but the wolf had also torn Raphael's neck badly. The pain was almost unbearable one moment, and then suddenly he just stopped.
The other wolf whined and Raph released his own hold and jumped back to put some room between them. The wolf no longer looked feral. Raphael could now see intelligence in those eyes. This was a Lycan after all. Blood matted Raphael's fur at his neck and ran down his leg to pool on the ground. The other wolf still on the ground before him also bleeding freely. The wolf continued to whine and his tail dropped down between his legs and ears back, telling Raph that he was asking for help.
Raphael, however was weary of tricks and did not immediately run forward. The other wolf's features hardened again as the intelligence faded to the feral fury again. Raph knew then that this other lycan was rabid. There could be no other explanation. The wolf lunged at Raphael's neck again. Raphael stood his ground and accepted the bite, but simple tossed the other wolf aside since that injured leg made him unable to keep hold. Two other wolves suddenly rushed into the clearing and took their places to either side of Raphael. The Calvary had arrived, and they were not happy at what they saw. Their master was injured and bleeding, and a wolf they did not know looked to be ready to attack again. The Mattias wolves lowered their heads and crouched to attack. Their ears back and teeth displayed in anger. They growled their challenge but were stopped at Raphael's bark. It was an order to stand down.

Raphael again raised his head and tail. He looked down at the other wolf and barked an order of submission to the intruder. One of the Mattias staff wolves howled a short retort and several other howls answered. They were not too far away. More re-enforcements were coming.

[Nathaniel Knight]

Rage. That was the only thing fueling the wolf right then as the pain from his crippled leg hit him. Any attempt to stand brought a surge of pain that was almost unbearable but the wolf wasn't about to let Raphael win. Still, even the wolf knew that his injured leg would slow him down in this fight; if he was going to ensure victory, he had to end this...and quickly. Lunging at Raphael, the wolf managed to latch onto his neck, tearing at it before falling to the ground once again. Had not more wolves run onto the scene, the new lycan would have surely tried to attack again. As it stood however it was questionable at best if the new lycan could hold his own against one wolf, let alone a whole pack. Not only that but that damned Nate was once again pressing for control...that weakling... This was his night and there was no way he was letting some mere human stand in his way.

Struggling to his feet again, the wolf growled, baring his teeth even as his ears went back in a clearly defensive position. It was clear that the new lycan wasn't about to back down but he knew that even under the best of conditions, that the chances of him beating an entire pack were slim. Whatever the case it seemed the challenger was alpha over the other members of the pack, or at least that was how it appeared. The other wolves had been about to attack him but for whatever reason, Raphael had stopped what would have otherwise been certain death for the new lycan. Defiance was still plainly seen in the wolf's eyes as he growled a challenge, daring any one of them to attack and yet knowing that the 'alpha's' order would stop them. Sure taunting the other wolves might not have been the best idea, but the new lycan wasn't about to go down without a fight.

Blood pooled around the wolf's feet, evidence that he had been badly injured from Raphael's bite. Had it not been for the pure rage and adrenaline that was still coursing through the new lycan's veins he would have been incapacitated to say the least. Right then however, the wolf was hardly paying attention to his leg, not when there was a threat directly in front of him. That was when one of the wolves howled and numerous answering calls were heard...the pack was coming and no doubt that would be the end of him. Not only that but Nate was pushing against him again, their situation was dire after all and the wolf was clearly not doing anything to help them. Even the wolf knew that he was beat, there were more members of the pack on their way and he had just attacked whom he assumed was the alpha. There was no possible way they could fight their way out of this.

Finally, the wolf gave up control and intelligence once again returned to the Nate's eyes as he fell to the ground. Pain was evident in the wolf's eyes as he whimpered, lowering himself as far down as he could in a clearly submissive stance much to the wolf's displeasure. Nate cringed as he heard the wolf growl, could feel that beast wanting to wrench control away yet again. Not this time though, Nate wasn't going to allow it...or at least he would try to remain in control. How long that would last was questionable but now that he had control he was going to make it count. Daring to look up at Raphael, Nate's pain-filled eyes pleaded for help, for answers to what had become of him. Raphael was the only one standing in the way of certain death and if there was anyone who could help...it would be him.

This body...the curse that had taken over him was overwhelming and Nate was simply trying to understand what was going on. He had attacked the wolf before him, that was obvious...but as to where he had run to when the wolf had taken over...that was a mystery. Right then, Nate looked for all the world like a frightened, confused, and injured puppy. For all intents and purposes, that was exactly what Nate was; the heightened senses, the new body he had transformed into...it was all so alien to him. Nate truly was lost and didn't know what to do, especially when the wolf was threatening to wrench control from him at any moment. Really it was a miracle that Nate had managed to stay sane this long..."....ay-ayudame (h-help me)...."Nate managed, struggling to form the words of the Spanish language he had spoken nearly his entire life,"...el lopo (the wolf).... m-..me duele (it hurts)..."he whined, desperately hoping that someone understood him. To his dismay, the attempt at speaking only came out as a series of whines and soft barks but even if speaking the human language was impossible, Nate could only hope he had somehow managed to get his point across. There was no telling when the wolf would take over again and judging by the way it was growling and snarling in the back of his mind, that moment would come all too soon. Nate could only hope that Raphael would do something...and quickly...

[Raphael G. Mattias]

Even as Raphael ordered his pack to stand down, the lycan before him was still defiant and growling in challenge. Raphael looked down on the wolf and frowned. In wolf form it was a relaxing of the eyes and slight droop of ears that showed this. Nate would be destroyed by decree of lycan law if he did not submit, whether Raphael wanted it or not. He was not alpha. Only the alpha could pardon him and Mitchel was away. Raphael had no idea when he would be back. Two others arrived and took their places behind Nate. There was no longer anywhere the rabid wolf could go.


With Guido's arrival came a series of growls barks and whines. He was challenging Raphael's order. The law was clear in these matters. Raphael did not reply. He simply stared. His was the only tail still straight up high. while not alpha, he was still Mattias and as thus, still master. He could stay the execution, and Raphael was going to remind his subordinate of this but did not have to. There was a whimper that drew Raphael's attention to the wolf in the center of the gathered members of the pack. Raphael saw the intelligence reappear in the eyes of the rabid wolf as he finally lowered himself to the ground and submitted.

Nates eyes finally showed resignation. He looked frightened and confused as he started to whine and bark softly in an attempt to communicate. Raphael could not understand what he said, but the tone let him know it was a desperate plea of some sort. All the anger left Raphael and was replaced with pity. Pain erupted within him and he yelped as he returned to human form, no longer able to hold his wolf form. Raphael cursed, picking his naked body off the ground. He winced, his hand going for the raw part of his neck where the damage the other wolf inflicted had resumed bleeding due to the transformation ripping open the healing flesh.
"He's rabid, Guido. I'll take responsibility. We shall take him into custody for now."

Guido snorted and turned his head toward the woods behind him and gave a sharp bark. Dr. Giordano stepped out from the tree line and walked forward. He raised the rifle in his arms and shot a tranquilizer dart into Nate as he approached.
"My apologies, Raphael. If what I just heard you say is true, I could not risk the poor soul loosing control again and attacking you in you human form."

Raphael nodded, looking down at the wolf at his feet as his eyes fluttered closed.

[Nathaniel Knight]

For all Nate knew, he was going to die with the way the other pack wolves were growling at him. Whatever Raphael had told the others, they clearly weren't happy about it but Nate was too distracted with his own pain and keeping the wolf at bay to care. The growling in the back of his head was giving him a headache to say the least and it was growing increasingly difficult to keep control. The wolf hadn't wanted to submit, it still wanted to fight...even if the odds were against him. Even if Nate was able to fight off the wolves, his injured leg would surely slow him down and become a liability to say the least. This argument didn't keep the wolf from wanting to fight still however and it was all Nate could do to stay sane as the beast pressed against his consciousness again. A short growl followed immediately by a quiet yelp as Nate pawed at his face slightly as if trying to hide his face from the others.

It was getting harder to stop the wolf from pressing in and if that happened...he would surely die... Nate was surrounded and there was little to no hope for escape-if that. He couldn't let the wolf out again...not if he wanted to live... Nate could only hope that Raphael had understood, at least in part, what he had been trying to say and would do something before it was too late. Thankfully it seemed that his attempt to explain himself had drawn Raphael's attention back to him before he turned back human. Wait...he could turn back...but then, why- dammit... Nate's thoughts were cut short as the wolf growled and snarled at Raphael in the back of his mind, wanting to tear this 'alpha' to shreds while he was weak. The term 'rabid' made Nate blink and whine in agreement while the wolf inside snarled and pushed harder for control.

There was no telling what the wolf would do if he got control but at the same time, Nate could barely hold the beast back any longer. Whining softly, almost frantically, Nate pawed at the ground, practically begging for help before the beast lost control again. An instant later, the wolf finally broke through, shoving Nate back and growled, already crouching, ready to attack when the tranquilizer hit him. Even as his vision grew foggy, the wolf still tried to fight and limped towards Raphael only to collapse after one step as the world grew blurry before one more whine came from Nate, thanking the wolf pack before he lost consciousness. The full moon was still out however, and though a tranquilizer might have caused a regular wolf to change back into his human form, it was not true for the new lycan. Possibly because it was his first transformation, there would be no possible way for Nate to return back to his human form until the full moon was gone.

No sooner had Nate lost consciousness however that a large tabby cat suddenly bolted in front of Nate, hissing at the other wolves. This was Chess, Nate's pet cat and he sure wasn't going to sit by and watch the other wolves hurt his 'daddy' and friend again. Chess had been hiding in the bushes watching him fight this other beast, knowing better than to get in the way of a fight. Still, now that Nate was unconscious, that meant that the other beasts could hurt him and Chess wasn't going to let the others get near Nate. The sight was amusing to say the least; a yowling, hissing cat protecting a werewolf of all things. Still, Chess wasn't going to back down until it was clear that the other wolves in the pack weren't a threat. Until then, anyone that got close would find a very angry cat attacking them with everything he had.

[Raphael G. Mattias]

Raphael raised an eyebrow at the Nate's last movements before he was tranquilized. How quickly the intelligence and feral sides of the wolf jockeyed for control. He thought back to when Gwendolyn almost transformed. She had control, yet her mindset was altered. She did not know she was not truly herself until it was almost too late. Nate however, was frightening. A rabid were would go completely native and feral having little if any control. A super wolf, so to speak, in relation to other native wolves. Superior by far, and infinitely more dangerous since wolves generally avoided humans while a rabid were would not.

It was not lost to Raphael that the doctor had potentially just saved his life. The cat darting out of the woods was not a surprise within itself. He was sure the members of the pack were aware of the feline just as he was. They could all smell him for some time, yet his hidden presence was insignificant and did not warrant their attention, that is, until now."Bloody Hell!!" Raphael shouted again for the third time in such a small period of time that he began to wish he'd never taken to the habit of using it whenever he was frustrated. The cat parked himself between Raphael and Nate and was yowling and hissing madly at them like some devil cat from the abyss. Its back was arched and rigid. Its hair puffed out like he had a paw in a socket and was being electrocuted. Raphael and the others would never admit to it after the fact, but they all took a step back in the face of such a ferocious display.

The cat circled Nate once before perching himself on top of the wolf as it spit, hissed, and yowled its threats. The good doctor was the first to start laughing at the absurdity of the whole thing, even as three of four wolves groaned and sat back to watch. Guido huffed and let out a few short howls to signal the "all clear". The wolves stood and bounded away to secure the perimeter before returning to their stations.

Raphael nodded to Guido and took on an amused expression that would have had Leon raising an eyebrow and threatening to sue over infringement of his signature facial expression, only to chuckle as he said "A bodyguard?" Guido snorted and yawned in response before he walked away. "Well" the doctor said slowly walking around the cat."Its the wrong species and there are no feline lycans that I know of, So girlfriend or mate is out of the question." he laughed.

The doctor put his riffle down and pulled the medical backpack off his shoulder. He proceeded to treat Raphael's wounds as they waited for the staff to arrive. Once the all clear was given, they should be in route to them. They would arrive in minutes. In fact, Guido, still in wolf form, heard the approach of someone. He whined, ears straight up. A growl escaped him and he rushed forward, again taking care to skirt the cat who started hissing anew at his approach, to advance toward the edge of the clearing. Something was wrong. Raphael now started to hear what the wolf was hearing. There were several approaching. Two or three of them. It was difficult to make out. Whoever they were, they were running flat out. Raphael tried to stand but a sting to his neck halted him. The doctor pulled him back down. "The stitches are not done. Please sit, Master Raphael."

A distinct shriek and giggle pierced the silence. The wolf that was Guido turned its head to Raphael and whined as if to say "what do I do" when out of the edge of the clearing jumped out a little girl in pink pajamas with brown hair flowing behind her. Guido barked, turning his body sideways to try to block her.

The doctor and Raphael both shot to their feet. Raphael bit his tongue when he almost yelled 'bloody hell' again for the fourth time. The doctor's shocked exclamation was "Is that?...." The girl laughed as she leapfrogged over Guido who could do nothing more in wolf form but bark. "ALICE! STOP!!: Raphael shouted. Her head turned to ward the voice she knew and she did stop, but not before her momentum took her to within a foot of Nate and the hissing ball of fur. The fact that he was naked was the furthest thing from his mind as he lunged for Alice to get her away from the sharp claws of the cat. Michelangelo will kill them all if harm came to his daughter. Of this, Raphael was certain. What those cat claws could do to the little girls face struck fear in his heart. The doctor looped his arms around Raphael and somehow managed to hold him down. "No! Look!". Raphael was about to throw him off, but he did look and stopped himself just in time.

[Alice A. Mattias]

The Mattias memorial gardens was host to one of the largest and most diversified collection of botanical wonder in the world. Common and rare flowers and foliage, koi ponds connected by natural babbling brooks, perfectly manicured grassy areas, shade trees, hedgerow maze, fountains, brick and paver walkways. It could possibly be one of the wonders of the world if anyone but the Mattias family and the few select "friends" of the family were to find out about it. It was Nadia's pride and joy, and as the light of day diminished, only those blessed with with the enhanced vision of supernaturals could still enjoy their beauty. Alice was one of these lucky few. Though she did not really understand what she or her family were, she was blessed with the enhanced ultra sensory of a wolf, yet more so. She was a lycan, and though just four years of life had accumulated in her existence, She was already blessed with the sight, smell, and taste of her birthright.

It was early evening and the sun had just set at the Mattias mansion. Alice April Mattias walked slowly among the field of color that no mere human would ever be able to enjoy. Her long brown hair rustled gently by the cool night breeze as it chased away the heat of the day. Sporting her favorite 'Hello Kitty' jammies, brown eyes scanned her surroundings looking for the perfect flower to give to her mommy. Wicker basket in hand, she smiled as she came to stand before a bed of red flowers she knew to be mommy's favorite. She knelt down and gently picked the blossom. She raised it to her little nose and gave a gentle sniff. Judging its scent to be of adequate quality and sweetness, she placed it in her basket to join her collection of hand picked perfection.

She didn't understand why, but she was drawn to look at the horizon just above the tree-line beyond the garden. There she saw the first peek of the luminescent orb that always made her stare in awe and wonder. Almost as if calling her name, but not so. She didn't understand how much that orb called the moon that took so many delightful shapes as the days wore on would play on who she was. "Hi mister moon" she said with a smile. She gazed upon the orb as it rose slowly from behind the trees. She shrieked in delight at the sight. The full moon that was rising was the biggest she'd ever seen. This phenomenon known as "The super moon" was something she'd never seen before. The moon was at its closest to the earth in its cycle of life and looked to Alice to be larger than life itself. She reached out a hand feeling she could touch it this time if she tried hard enough. To her young mind it seemed that the moon had come down from the sky above for a visit. It looked to be just beyond that row of trees. Dropping her basket, she ran as fast as her little legs would carry her. She just has to reach Mr. Moon before he flies up into the sky.

Inside the screened-in patio, Anna glanced up to see Alice slowly waking in the garden not too far away. She was just getting done setting up her young master's tea set for the tea party she promised the little lady. Anna was Alice's personal maid. She followed her little master everywhere and saw that all her needs were taken care of. She'd been hired solely for that purpose, and thus was only in the employ of the Mattias for four years. She was affectionately known as 'Nana' to Michelangelo, his wife, and Alice. It was a cute misappropriation by Alice that was nothing other than perfect due to the definition of the word.

Anna was human. A relative of Nadia's, so she knew of the Mattias and was trusted. She heard Alice saying hello to the moon and shriek and giggle so that she smiled herself. She should have looked up to see what her young ward, but didn't. Hearing her nearby was all she needed to know at that moment. She finished the last touches to the tea party setup and smiled anew at her handiwork. Everything was ready. All she needed was the kettle of tea. She glanced up to call Alice inside. Her eyes went to the spot where she'd last seen her. She saw the basket, but no Alice. "Milady?" she called out in a normal voice. "The tea party awaits your audience" She added playfully. Her eyes scanned the flower beds near the basket. She was sure Alice probably traveled into the beds looking for that perfect blossom. Not seeing her, the smile slowly faded from her features as she walked out of the patio into the garden. "Ali?" She called out a bit louder. No response.

Just then a security operative shoved open the french doors leading to the patio from the mansion. Anna turned startled. "We're locking down. Please collect Alice and head to the nearest safe room." He said with urgency in his voice. If he'd stayed just a moment longer he would have seen the maid pale as she stood there speechless. Instead he turned on his heel and disappeared inside to see to his duties. Anna gasped. She could not get any words past her lips as fear reared its ugly head. She turned around and rushed out into he Gardens and finding her voice shouted. "Alice!! Alice where are you!" Movement in her peripheral vision caught her attention and her eyes flicked to it. If she was a lycan, she would have clearly seen the pink jammied Alice running towards the edge of the forest. Instead her human eyes which were adjusting to the darkness from the light inside the screened in patio just saw a shape moving away towards the forest. Precious seconds passed as fear and just plain human inferiority immobilize her.

The unknown made her hesitate. The shape was almost to trees before she regained some sense to realize that a threat would be coming towards the mansion and not running away from it. That had to be Alice. She was not totally sure, but she had to trust her instincts that screamed at her to do something before it was too late.
" "ALICE!" she screamed and took off after the toddler. Her maid's uniform would more than hinder her as it seemed to snag on every bush and branch of the undergrowth. This along with Alice's substantial lead would hinder her efforts to overtake her. She should have called for help, but she'd loose Alice. She sprinted towards the toddler. Thanking god for the ample moon light that made the pink of Ali's jammies glow like a beacon.

Alice ran and ran. She reached the far end of the gardens and faintly heard her name being called. A little voice in her head told her she should stop and wait for nana, but looking up, she saw the huge moon almost half way up and pushed on. Even when Anna creamed her name, Alice slowed only long enough to turn her head and say "But, Mister moon, Nana". Alice was fleet on her feet. Her every step light and balanced. She did not notice how agile and gracefully she ran, subconsciously adjusting her path to avoid all the obstacles in her path. In comparison, Anna was already winded as she literally crashed through the undergrowth in an almost straight line. She was gaining, but slowly, and she couldn't understand why she'd not caught Alice yet. She had raced the girl just recently and knew she was faster. But that had been on flat open spaces.
Alice herd the howl and was instantly drawn to it. She turned sharply left to Anna's relief. Anna had no breath to lend to her voice as her lungs burned for lack of adequate oxygen. But turning slightly she knew she'd catch Alice now. Alice shrieked and giggled as she saw a clearing up ahead. Within the clearing and directly in front of her she saw the wolf she instantly knew to be Guido. To a normal girl, this may have frightened her, but she was not a normal girl. She just accepted the things that would have been abnormal as normal. She just didn't know that it was not normal. She rushed out as the wolf turned its body to block her. She saw this as a game and used her arms to leapfrog over him. On the other side she saw the sleeping wolf and cat perched atop.

Raphael's shout hurt her ears and she couldn't help but look in his direction as she slowed to stop. He'd never yelled at her before and fear forced her to heed his words and forget the moon. She focused on his face for just a fraction of a second before other sounds made her focus on what was in front of her. Momentum took her to within a foot of the wolf and cat before she came to a complete stop.

Any sounds the cat was making went unheeded by Alice. All she saw was a kitty cat with puffed hair. She giggled and laughed in delight as she sang "Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur. Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr!." before she reached out. Grabbed the cat in her small hands and hugged him to her. "Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur. Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr." She sang again. This time softly as she snuggled the cat totally oblivious of what had happened before her arrival and the danger she was in.

The maid who was in pursuit crashed through the forest and skid to a stop, landing on her bum as she tried to avoid collision with the wolf before her. Guido was growling and crouched to attack. Anna screamed not knowing it was Guido. Guido recognized her immediately and spun to face in the direction Alice had gone. Anna was too winded to speak although knowing now the wolf was a Mattias. She stared at the sight before her as tears streamed down her cheeks. She was just happy Alice had stopped and that there were Mattias around her for she couldn't take another step. Raphael's shout drew her attention to him and then Alice and then back to Raphael, who she noticed was injured and stark naked. Anna blushed and removed her apron, holding it out with her eyes averted. "Master Mattias" was all she dared say.

[Michelangelo A. Mattias]

The time in which the sun’s last rays peeled back into darkness was a time Michelangelo was most at peace, rather it was the time he should have been most at peace. It was a time when work was stopped or in this case where the recreation of visiting the family was coming to a lull. He had spent the last few hours recanting the stories of various enterprises that he had undertaken apart from the Mattias regime to none other than Mitchel Mattias who paid what attention was due to his middle son. There were a few short debates that melded into moments of silence, but it was a common occurrence between father and son. Nadia had since gathered up Celestine and sequestered her into a conversation on the other side of the house, something about the fine art of embroidery that the latter though not quite as interested in the act as the prior was willing to give her mother-in-law the attention she was due. But a short time earlier, Alice had desired to trek outside, and on the promise that she stay close to home and keep under the watchful eyes of Anna, she was allowed to have her childhood fun while the adults exchanged conversation. Though Mitchel wanted to spend time with his granddaughter, there was certainly a lot needing to be discussed with Raphael before then. Thus he let it go for now.

It was as a security guard interrupted a particularly deep conversation about the inner workings of the latest model of gun that had been about to be put on the market that Michelangelo was pulled from his zone and gave brief thought to Celestine and Alice. All too quickly the man was on his feet. “Sirs,” the man started but fell silent upon finding Mikey already on his feet. For a few seconds he was at a loss for words now under new pressure as Mitchel himself rose rather quickly to meet his gaze shortly after, yet Mikey spoke rather quickly thereafter. “What is it?” was the flat order from the younger werewolf. The man ducked his head briefly. “There has been a lockdown procedure initiated, sirs, he replied. Mikey glanced sideways at Mitchel, and both men exchanged a glance before Mikey turned and made his way towards the door already passing the man as he went. It was an understood notion that the younger werewolf would collet what family he had even if not under direct order by the older one. Mitchel, meanwhile, began to shoot questions at the man who was hesitant but quick to answer them.

Mikey wound his way through the hallways coming quickly upon Celestine and Nadia who jumped in surprise to find him there, yet before they had a chance to engage him in conversation, he was on his way out quickly walking towards the screen door that would lead out into the gardens. Upon stepping out and finding neither Alice or Anna in the vicinity, Mikey’s muscles tensed, and air was dragged into his nose rather quickly before he turned and started rather quickly in the direction he smelled Alice. “Alice? Alice where are you?” Mikey called breaking into a full run despite his restrictive clothes and normal demeanor. He hadn’t had a chance to know what had caused the lockdown, but he wasn’t going to go back inside without knowing exactly where his daughter was.

Raphael’s shout vibrated Mikey’s ears even form the distance he was at, and the tone was clear enough. Bristling, he sped up quickly running into the gathered place only to find his daughter singing about cats and picking one up. All of the surrounding guards didn’t catch his attention nor did even the naked Raphael in that moment. Instead, he found himself rushing forwards wrapping his arms around Alice and the cat and turn. “Alice, love, what are you doing out here…” the more than a little relieved father asked just holding her closer in that moment. It was only as he held her, knew that she was close, that his brown eyes opened again and glanced sideways finally catching sight of Raphael and the rest in tow. Upon catching sight of the unconscious form just a bit a way, Michelangelo tensed before making to scoop up Alice and the cat in his arms turning around to avoid facing the form and instead walking a little ways away. “Raphael, I want a report on this later,” was all Michelangelo stated as he kept walking trying to quell the crashing emotions that were threatening to overtake him. He hated when he didn’t have control over his own voice, but in that moment, there was too much emotion to be had.

[Raphael G. Mattias]

Raphael breathed a short sigh of relief when his niece's song looked to immediately calm the cat. His breath caught again, his muscled tensing at Alice reaching out to embrace the cat in a hug, but he relaxed again a moment later when the cat just seemed to go limp in Alice's arms and purred happily. A whine pulled Raphael's attention away from the awe inspiring sight to Guido who was in staring at the tree line again. Unlike Anna who sounded like a herd of animals was crashing through the undergrowth in their direction. The new arrival was a silent breeze. Guido snorted and made a motion with his head that looked like he was rolling his eyes and saying 'Will this madness just stop already' to which Raphael agreed whole heartedly. Raphael glanced at Anna. She was a mess. Her maid's uniform was literally torn to shreds. She must have snagged it on every single bush and branch from the mansion to here.

Her eyes were wide before she blushed and looked away. It did not dawn on Raphael until she offered her torn apron to him that he was the cause of her discomfort and embarrassment.

Before he could offer his thanks and walk over to take the offered garment, another figure emerged into clearing. This one was a surprise even to Guido for his stealth and speed were 'that' good that Guido could not guess who it was. Michelangelo now walked in from the edge of the clearing. He was dressed in casual clothing, but unlike Anna, there was not a single tear or scrape. It was as if he'd run in on a well traveled and wide trail. He looked at no one. His eyes were fixed on his daughter. No one said a word or moved as Michelangelo embraced his daughter and the cat for that matter. The relief in his features spoke volumes.


Alice giggled as her fathers familiar and warm embrace encircled her and her new friend. She turned and returned his hug with her own as she replied to his question. "Daddy. Mr.Moon. He came down to visit and I wanted to say hi but then fluffy kitty needed a hug and..." She pointed up at the large silver orb half visible over the trees. "Mister Moon! I'll catch you nest time. love you. Bye Bye." She said. Her eyes full of wonder. The innocence of a child who did not know danger.

Raphael almost smiled and laughed. Mikey's eyes opening and the way he now,for the first time,took in his surroundings sent a pang of fear through everyone there. Michelangelo scooped up his daughter and without another word, walked away towards the edge of the clearing in the direction he'd just come from. He never even stopped. A sideways glance at Raphael made the hairs on the back of his hair stand up. The informal address let Raphael know he'd disappointed his brother. Even though he did not have a direct hand in Alice being in danger,he was the ranking Mattias on the scene. Raphael could read Michelangelo clearly, which was a rare slip on his part,and Raphael knew there would be hell to pay later. His brother walked off into the woods,even as Raphael took the apron from Anna's trembling hand and wrapped it around his waist.

Michelangelo had not even looked in Anna's direction. Did not acknowledge her at all. She could have spoken up. Said something in her defense, but she dared not. Not unless she was addressed directly. She put her face in her hands and cried. Raphael felt a pang of pity for the woman. She probably just lost her job. It would all depend on the investigation and debriefing later. Mother would weigh in in Anna's defense. Either way, shed lost his brother's confidence. She would be hard pressed to regain it.

Raphael turned his head to look at Nate's sleeping form. He shook his head and then turned his sights on Guido, threw his hands up in the air and in an irritated voice asked the question that was probably on everyone's mind. That is, other than what Michelangelo would do to them. "Where in the name of our lord and savior Jesus Christ are the staff with my spare clothes!!". Guido whined. The good doctor clasped his hand on Raphael's shoulder. "A very good question, my dear Watson. The game is a foot" he joked as he gestured to the man at the edge on the clearing. The man was literally frozen on the spot. There was really no telling when he'd gotten there. But in his hands were garments that were worth more to Raphael right now than a fleet of his prized motorcycles.

An hour later, back at the mansion, their new guest was in good hands under the care of a very capable Dr. Giordano. The cat, strange as it was, was happy to stay with Alice once he was shown that his master was resting in a comfortable bed and was being cared for. Once Gwen had fallen asleep the cat disappeared and probably found his way back to his master.