1 Prologue

The air was cold, colder than usual or so it seemed to Viktor. Shirtless, he stalked through the fresh snow as quietly as he could muster. The cold biting at him as he cursed himself for not staying in his werebeast form long enough to have shed into his winter coat. Now his orange and black striped fur barely kept him warm as he tracked a pack of deer. Times had gotten lean and difficult and if he didn't get a kill soon then his ailing mother would surely perish. It was something that he could not allow.

Viktor stopped beside a low hanging tree limb, the still green leaves hiding his presence as he zeroed in on his prey. His senses where as sharp as ever. He could feel his muscles tighten as he took a stance low to the ground. The claws on his exposed feet dug into the ground for optimal power and traction. He would need it. Viktor looked over the prey and there he saw his choice. A seasoned buck that had no doubt seen many winters and faced many challengers. Viktor smiled a toothy grin. "Today will be your last battle my friend. May you die well" he said quietly.

As he whispered those words the buck's head shot up, its ears switching to and fro to find what it seemed to sense. The young male and other females noticed and became restless. "Now!" Viktor thought and leapt out from the brush. Almost too late the deer noticed him coming at a full sprint and scattered, but Viktor quickly caught up to his prey. He leapt forward once again and tackled the big buck taking him to the ground. Viktor wasted no time in sinking his teeth into the animal's neck. It screamed and thrashed as blood began to pour out of its neck and run down Viktor's chops then onto his chest. The warmth of it a pleasure, the taste of it a delicacy and he savored both as his heart pounded in his chest. Today was a good day. He had made a kill. He and his mother would eat for another week or two.

Satisfied that the buck was dead he laid it down and released its neck from his jaws. Licking the blood from his chops and hands he bent down and said "Thank you for your sacrifice my friend. You fought well." After paying his respects he grabbed the buck and slung it over his shoulders. He began his long trek back to his home.

X. X. X.

Sergei spit blood onto the floor, a tooth going with it. His gaze turned toward the man who had punched him as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The man stood a head taller than him and was broad. It reminded him of his brother. He spat again, this time out of spite. Two other men stood on either side of the taller one and Sergei knew it wasn't going to be a fair fight. There was something in the air that he could sense, that felt off. He could feel that the two in front of him were different from the other men in the pub. He sniffed for a moment before realizing that they had the beast blood coursing through their veins. "This is gonna be fun." He thought to himself. Not waiting to ask what the punch was for, Sergei searched for the beast in him. It was not hard to find as it always seemed to sit just behind his human facade. The change started to take over him as he yelled in pain.

The patrons had gone quiet, all of them taking notice of the yelling man as he seemed to change in front of them. In a matter of seconds the man pulled at his skin, tearing it away as if it was paper. His howls of pain turned into growls of aggression and rage. The three men, not to be outdone, began their change as well. By now the others in the pub had begun to clear out. Running and screaming about strange creatures trying to kill them. Sergei pulled the last piece of his human skin from his face revealing a long black snout and mangy fur. His yellow eyes full of rage as he threw his head back in a long howl. The tall man that had attacked him did the same as if he was accepting the challenge of another male. Sergei leapt forward his claws ready to tear and his fangs ready for blood. He pushed the taller one back, knocking him off his feet, then he turned on the werewolf to his left, swiping with his right hand. It caught the werewolf's neck and sliced through it but the other jumped on his back and began to thrash and beat him. Sergei released a low growl then reached up and grabbed him. His claws sank deep into the werewolf's shoulders and Sergei pulled him from atop him, slamming him down onto the hardwood floor. He dug his right hand into the flesh underneath it's jaw and ripped it from him.

Gore dripped from the jaw as he turned around to face the bigger of the two werewolves. Before he charged the other he roared at him. A last chance to give up. The other werewolf stood looking at his now dead comrades who had reverted back to their human forms and only growled his anger. Sergei grinned, or what could only be a grin in his werewolf form. His fangs bared, he obliged the other werewolf and threw the jaw on the ground. Running forward he leapt and hit him with enough force to send them through the glass window and into the street. Both roaring and snarling at each other. Trying to find a spot that their claws and teeth could sink into.

Sergei slashed at the other and the other slashed at him until Sergei was able to get the upper hand. Onlookers would later attest that it looked like two giant dogs fighting in the street, biting and tearing at each other's neck. Soon Sergei found the break he needed and got his clawed hand around the other's neck. The other kicked and thrashed as Sergei lifted him off of the ground and thrust his left hand into the beast chest. The Werewolf howled in pain as Sergei pulled its heart out of its chest, still beating the werewolf looked at its own heart in horror as the life faded from its body. Soon it was limp, Sergei threw the werewolf on the ground and placed a leg upon it howling in triumph. The dead werewolves body now reverting back to human he looked around as the authorities had begun to arrive. Whistles blew and people shouted. He growled at the people gathered around him then he turned and ran leaving the body there to rot. The heart was his though. A werewolf needed his dinner.

X. X. X.

Eyes shrouded in darkness they watched the werewolves fight. The money that he had paid to those random werebeasts to attack Sergei had been worth every cent. Now he had the black dog in his sights and could follow him. His master the white bear would be most grateful and hopefully would reward him for his efforts. The man chuckled to himself. It seems the stories of the black dog's savagery weren't just stories. That he reveled in the violence. That would boast well for the tournament that his master had been planning. Now he just needed to wait for the white bear to return from his little trip into the Siberian tundra to retrieve Viktor. Truly the two brothers were long overdue for a reunion.

As the man watched Sergei turn and run from the street he changed his form to follow. Soon he was on his tail but with enough distance to stay out of detection. Being a werefox he was most adept at sneaking. Something his kind excelled at. He followed him out of the town and into the countryside until Sergei came to a stop and began eating the heart that he held in his hand. The werefox watched from the shadow's, thinking of the coming fights and carnage that he would witness.