Pride Leader

Chapter 42
Author: Mark J. Silva Jr
First Editor: Elvin Gan Kuan Leng

Scout Ship Bane, You are clear for Landing bay 4.
Copy, Bay 4.

* * *
Pack Leader Markus: I said let me enter!
Royal Guard: No males may enter the royal quarters.
Markus: I have thirty vixens for his Sire and Im taken them to him!
Royal Guard: I dont care if you are being escorted by all the queens themselves, No Male can enter. Not
even a loud mouth wolf like you.
Markus stands there, all his years as an ops team leader for his queen, now stuck as a gofer. Now he has
been babysitting 30 vixens for the last three weeks, and all that stands in his way are two Lions telling
him he cant go somewhere. With his back to the guards he slowly pulls out his stunner, in a blink of an
eye he spins around and stuns both guards. To find the doors sealed.
Markus: Tooms open this door.
Tooms: Right away sir.
A few minutes later Markus and his team stands in the main room of the royal quarters facing sixty odd
servants, maids and guards with blasters and stunner in their paws. In front of them are two very pissed
off wolves with some of the most vicious looks swords Markus has ever seen. He then notices a very tall
vixen coming forward thru the group.
Fala: I believe you have made a poor choice, who are you?
Markus: Pack Leader Markus, Her Highness Royal Guard on orders to bring her more Breeders.
Fala: Markus, I know for a fact you were told that no males were to enter here. Turn back before his Sire
finds you here.
Markus: I will leave when, Her highness dismisses my pack!
Falas eyes glow as she cast a spell. Now Markus and his whole pack stands frozen in place as statues.
Fala: You want to stay, this is how you stay < Turns to face the others > Return to your duties. They are
harmless now.
Little Star, please take this group of breeders to their new housing.
Little Star: Yes my Lady.

* * *
A few hours later we find Markus and his team in a sealed room with doors on each end.
Markus: LET US OUT OF HERE!!!
Unknown Voice thru Comm:
You forced yourselves into my quarters, and now you demand to be released. Can you make a guess
where you are now?
Markus: I dont care! Let us out!
Just as he finishes his statement a light on a control panel starts blinking. The displays read Warning!
Airlock pressures controls bypassed! Forcible depression danger! Then Markus spins around as he
hears the mag locks on the outer doors release. In a panic, he now just fully realizes Theyre in an airlock
thats being opened to the outside. The doors snap open and the team is ejected from the over
pressurized air lock right into a waiting ships airlock, outside the Airlock, Mark is busting at the seams
laughing so hard from the looks of terror on the teams muzzles
Mark: Pack Leader, get a change of uniforms on then see me in the meeting hall in twenty mins.
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Fyyf (Snickering): Mark, that was mean.
Mark (Laughing still): I know, but the look on his muzzle. Ha..ha..ha..ha.. It was so good, I needed a
laugh. And for some reason it seemed so fitting.
Fyyf: Shh, hes coming in now.

* * *
So, Now Markus, I think I have a job more befitting you rather than a gofer. In landing Bay four you seen
two war ships, both are new, both are being crewed. And I think one can have you as her captain.
Markus: Youre offering me a ship Sire?
Mark: Yes, a real warship, she needs a captain, who knows how to fight, one whos willing to take the
steps needed to win.
Markus: Yes Sire, I will do it!
Mark: And Captain.
Markus: Yes Sire, How about my team Sire? Can I transfer them over as well?
Mark: Yes, I think they can be the core of your new command crew. And remember Stay off my
quarters deck.
Markus: Sire! Yes Sire!
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Sitting in his office, Mark reviews reports and waits, He waiting on a god. One who he asked to make
him two items. As he sits there a fogs forms and opens, heat from a blast furnace washes the room.
Vulcan steps in.
Vulcan: Done, they are ready.
Mark: Good, pass them here please.
Vulcan: My pleasure. Just remember our deal.
Mark: Whenever you want payment. You can receive it.
Vulcan passes over two small daggers, each about a foot long, both with a surprise in them. As Mark
holds them he put one down. Grips the other and it grows, forming a sword about 3 feet long in the
blade, and a foot on the grip. Its blade shimmers with need, waiting for real power to be applied to it,
with a thought Mark infuses it, making it an artifact of a god, a blade that can cut any armor like butter,
a blade that cant be stopped. Once done with this one he puts it down and it returns to its former state,
a dagger waiting for its time of need. He picks up the other and performs the same thing. Now his gifts
are ready.
Mark: Vulcan, as always you have made the perfect swords, thank you for your fine work.
Vulcan: The honor is mine champion. They will serve your two females well, and as promised that will
never work for another.
Mark: Good. And as a bonus you will find your forges have more divine to burn for you.
Vulcan: A very welcomed gift, I need to return, I have more to make.
Mark: May your forges burn hot and the steel work easy.
Vulcan: Champion, you surprise me with an old blessing, I am really going to enjoy working with you.
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Sire you call for me to bring Sun and Flee?
Mark: Yes, thank you for getting them right here. Now Sun, Flee, please relax, I called you here to give
you a gift. Flower dear, please take a seat and relax.
Flower: As you please Sire.
Mark: Now ladies, draw your swords and place them on the desk.
You two have shown you are worthy warriors. Brave, fierce, powerful, but above all and to me one of
the most important things, caring, Sarah has told me how great you are with my kits, and Strike has
praised you two as warriors. Sadly I can never make you warriors because you were sold as slaves, but I
am going to give you everything I can otherwise, you two will stay as helper to the kits and pups, but you
will train with the royal guard, you will be armed at all times. Now your old swords, while they served
your will, theyre not befitting of you two. < Mark picks up the two daggers and passes one to each of
the wolves> Now I know youre wondering if this is a joke. Its not, just think sword and see whats
happens.
Flee looks at the dagger and wonders what he meant by think swords, suddenly it starts to grow, a long
slender blade, she looks into its blade, it has a life of its own, she can feel its power flowing into her, her
reflexes sharpen, her sense sharpens, she can see the grain of the steel in the blade, She becomes one
with the sword, now she hears its song as it sings to her. A song of victories to come, a song of love and
war, this is not just a sword now, it is a true part of her soul. When a time of need is called, it will be in
her paw ready to strike down her enemy. Flee looks at her sister in arms, she knows Sun just felt the
same thing and she notices, Sun in full armor, looking back at her arm she sees that she is also in full
armor. Covered from head to foot. Armor so light she cant feel it, but so strong it will withstand a
barrage of blaster shots easily.
Sun notices as she checks out Flees armor that their brands shine right thru. She looks back up at Mark,
as she lowers the swords it returns to a dagger, the armor dissolves into a sheath on her hip to hold the
dagger.
Mark: Yes, what you felt is true. You will never be defenseless ever again. As of today you are free to
roam the ship. Now return to your charges. Be happy and fight well.
Both: Thank you Sire!
Both Wolves walk out heading back to the nursery, deep in thought, and happier than they can ever
remember.
Flower: Sire. That was a wonderful gift! I dont think I have seen them so happy before.
Mark: I have, just watch them when theyre playing with the kits. Their hearts soar when they hold
them. They are highly protective of them. It shows and I like it. Now tell me, how are your charges
doing?
Flower: They are doing very well. Hard working and eager to please. Sire I have a question.
Mark: Well ask it than, its not a question unless its asked now...
Flower: Sire, I will be coming into my first heat in a few days, Id like for you to take me.
Mark: Are you sure? If I take you on in your heat, you will have pups, its not a question of if, you will.
Flower: Please Sire, I do want this.
Mark: Okay, I will tell Fyyf to put you on schedule for it.
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Marks in his office, working late, and doors sealed; the war is bearing on his shoulders, even with the
war ships the Douhed are still fighting tooth and nail. While gaining ground, its been very hard. The
Douhed are using the scorched ground method, leaving nothing of value behind, and destroying good
worlds, wiping out their own people to keep them out of his paws. A form shimmers to life in the room.
Mark, why do you do this to yourself?
Mark: Crystal! Whats wrong?
Crystal: Youre suffering, go get some rest. Dont burn yourself out trying to solve this. Please go to your
room.
Mark: Crystal, I need to find an answer, too many are suffering while I try to find an answer.
Crystal: If you dont get some rest I am going to find a way to get you out of here.
Mark: And how do you think you could do that?
Crystal: I will go and talk to Joy or Violet. Maybe even Fala. You cant lock yourself away like this. Its not
healthy for you. Do you know what some of your goddesses would do if they found out you were lock in
here like this?
Mark: Crystal, my dear. I dont know any other way to work on this. I need to find answers and I have to
do it. So please let me be.
Crystal: There is no way Im leaving you like this, and dont you dare wave me off! GET UP AND MOVE IT!
Mark: Crystal dont, please dont make me push you away.
Crystal stands there in shock, push her away. He wouldnt dare. But what if he did? What would happen
than? She decides its time to make a hasty retreat and find help. So as she came, she left is a hazy
shimmer she goes looking for help.

* * *
Star, May I speak with you?
Star: Crystal? Child why arent you at rest?
Crystal: I have been watching over Mark, Hes been fooling his wives, while they sleep; he gets up and
works real hard on the war effort. Ive been watching him pushing himself to a burnout.
Star: How can he hide from Joy? Shes right there?
Crystal: He waits for her to be in a real deep sleep. I faced him earlier. He had threatened to push me
away. I dont want to know what would happen than.
Star: Okay, thanks Crystal, go and keep an eye on him, I need to talk to others on what to do. Hes not
one to be forced into doing something.