Study - Debriefing a Mission

[Alena Wulf]

Alena Wulf sat on top of the desk in the third floor study, her head resting to the side on her right shoulder, waiting for her Pups to arrive. She wasn't good with waiting. The large red and brown wolf that occupied the room with her stretched and sat back on his hind legs, resting his head and front paws in Alena's lap, like he could sense her boredom. She looked into the beast's eyes and scratched behind his ears.
Of the Werewolves sent out, not all had returned from their mission in Rome. But Rome had returned to her. Her prize; the home of her birth and where she first met Mikael and his brothers, the rest of her kind. Once again, finally, the city belonged to the Werewolves. The citizens of Rome would no longer need to fear being taken into the night to be drained dry of their blood. They might have to look out for the occasional frenzied Lycan on a full moon who might tear them limb from limb, but... fuck the citizens of Rome. What mattered was that the city was Hers now. The Lycan race had pushed away the Vampyre influence and would begin to imprint their disease on select Romans, they way they were meant to. Romans were warriors! Strong of blood, fierce, noble; it had killed her to see the city go to waste at the hands of the Vampyre for so long, centuries too long. But this was a new time for Rome.
And a new time for the Werewolf Pups who'd led her assault in freeing her city. Their sacrifices and service would be honored; how Mikael would have been proud. Alena stared through the door to the study, standing. Her wolf moved to her side, always a silent presence.

[Damien]

It had been seven years since Damien left America in search of answers, in search of his enigmatic father. Seven years spent in the wolves' den. Seven years of strengthening his human body, and seven years of learning to control the beast inside. Yet he was no closer to finding his father than he was the moment he stepped off of the plane onto Swedish soil. Perrin Golden-eyes might as well have never existed, he had disappeared nearly a decade ago like a whisper into the night. But despite his failure, Damien would become the next Lycan Lord. He just needed the opportunity to prove himself, to make a name for himself in the pack. And finally the opportunity had presented itself. Alena had finally decided to purge the city of Rome by fang and claw, to rid it of each and every blood sucking, undead leech that resided there.

The Lycan's had caught the vampiric vermin unaware and unprepared, and on the first few days, Damien and company slaughtered dozens of vampires in broad daylight as they slept in their covens, arrogent enough to believe that they were safe from Alena's wrath. But it would prove to be a long and bloody struggle as the vampires rallied together to fend off the relentless wolves. In the end, the combined might of The Pack was too much for the vampires to overcome, and slowly the city fell into the paws of the Wolf-mother. The battle was all but won by the time Damien's party made preparations to report back to the Den in Stockholm, war only erupting in small scale skirmishes and ambushes. The vampires, well aware of their inevitable defeat took to guerilla warfare, eventually wounding Damien as he took the full brunt of a claymore. Though he was lucky the blade was made of steel, rather than silver, his Lycan hide only stopped the frenzied attack from cleaving through his flesh, shattering the bones in his arm instead. Being unable to continue fighting, Damien left Rome for the Den to report back to Alena; the battle had been won, Rome belonged to her.

He arrived at the large wrought iron gates of the Lycan den, was quickly ushered past the oaken doors into the lobby, and taken to the third floor study. Damien couldn't help but stare at his arm hanging limp in a sling around his shoulder. He loathed to stand before Alena in this condition, but the Wolf-mother was not one to be kept waiting. He took a deep breath, stepping inside to see Alena sitting on a desk, her impatience evident. He caught her eye and bowed in reverence before addressing the Queen of Lycans. "You summoned me m'lady?"

[Geoff]

Geoff had long awaited this moment, the time to fight off the vampires that he knew killed his family. Geoff didn't have any lycans under his command. Geoff was ready, he had a quick bite to eat to get his energy up and ready as he possibly could. When Geoff was finally ready he went outside and transformed into his wolf form. He ran as fast as he could go, his paws hitting the ground like jack hammers, shaking the ground with each step. The wind brushed threw his whitish gray fur, Geoff panting from the rate he was running. He made it to Rome and finally got his chance. Geoff moved alone because he was from Rome so he knew the streets and alleyways better than most of the lycans from the main base. He moved quickly and silently, dispersing vampires and getting some and ripping them to shreds. He finally made it to his house. He changed back into his human form, and slowly walked to the front door of his house. As the door opened slowly at his push, the creaks of the door almost sounded like the shouts of what his family would have made as they were being torn to pieces by vampires. He looked through the house, working room to room, viewing certain things he remembered from his past from each room, a tear started to run down his eye when a throwing knife caught the back of his right shoulder from the window in his room. He turned around and saw a vampire standing there across the way. Geoff had lost track of time and the sun had gone down. He pulled the knife out his back and howled as he quickly changed back into his full form and jumped out of the window and onto the vampire ripping it to pieces. Geoff had just finished taking the last bite out of the vampire when someone messaged him telepathically that it was time to head back to base. So Geoff, being a loyal soldier, turned around and headed back, having fulfilled what he wanted to do going back to the base. He got back quite quickly. Went up to his room and changed into normal clothes, he then quickly got a message telling him that Alena was holding a debriefing and wanted him there. So Geoff headed over to Alena's room where she held the meeting. Geoff walked in the door slowly and calmly, "You wanted to see me?" is all he said, awaiting her reply.

[Adele Holst]

From her knees to the tips of her fingers, Adele had been shaking the whole flight from Rome back to Stockholm. What she'd undergone in Rome was unlike anything the young woman had ever encountered before, and her entire body was buzzing with energy, though her mind cried for rest.
Geoff had assigned the blonde girl to the Vampire Coven base located in the center of the city and she'd been given the responsibility of leading her team to ensuring that no Bat survived and that the underground tunnels in her section were entirely clear. In 21 years, this had been Adele's first leadership role, ever. And Odin was she nervous. She would have been perfectly fine with having no responsibilities, just helping out in Pablo's group or something. However, the woman, no, Werewolf who'd taken her in and helped to acclimate the girl to her new life had deemed she should lead a party of her own. Adele, after all, had been bitten and given the powers of the late Perrin Goldeneyes, the Lycan 2nd in command of the whole pack before his passing. She was doomed to rise to leadership, whether she wanted to or not, it seemed. There would only be more trials like this in her future, Adele thought with apprehension.
The mission, though, had actually gone smoother than she'd expected for the most part. Spearheading her group, Adele led the way through the Vampire catacombs underneath the city, destroying every blood-sucking leech that crossed her path, staining her stark pelt with the blood of the Lycan enemy. The raw emotion and energy that came to her then was startling. Sure, the girl had trained before and sparred a couple of times; but this was in no way like attacking at the air. These foes fought back and had mass and resistance to them. Adele had to employ muscles she didn't think she had before, which was no big deal at the time. But now that the fighting was all said and done, she hurt! Her body was screaming at her, and all the young woman wanted to do was flop into bed and sleep in the dark for a few days; showering wasn't even a priority until sleep happened.
Alena and the Den had other ideas for her, it became clear as she walked into the lobby. Excited murmurs rang through the halls of victory in the south, and Adele climbed the stairs to the third floor study where the mission had first been given. The young Lycan looked down, taking a quick inventory of herself. Her pants had holes in the knees and blood stains around those holes and up her thighs; in hindsight she probably should have worn different pants to the airport. Everything else was tolerable though; she unzipped her hoody, ran her nails down her hair from the part to try and straighten it, and shifted the weight of her backpack, dropping it on the floor outside the study.
Breathe Addy... she told herself. While she thought she'd done alright in Rome, she had lost a few Lycans in the back of her group and felt there was always a chance she'd screwed up and not noticed. Maybe Alena would notice something she'd overlooked. Gods she hoped not; she wanted to do well in the Lycan Mother's eyes.
Opening the door to the study, Adele stepped just inside and chose a spot near the back to stand. It appeared only Damien had returned so far, and wounded. She bit her lip and looked to Alena, lowering her head in a bow when the Werewolf Queen noticed her.

[Geoff]

Geoff watched Adele walk in shortly after him. He watched her try to shrink into the back of the room, and he couldn't help but admire her. He was proud of her, some people had talked to Geoff about it not being a good idea to send Adele as a leader, but Geoff knew otherwise. And she didn't let him down.

Geoff slinked over next to Adele, and he tried to be unnoticeable. As soon as he got close to Adele, he didn't want to interrupt the other talking in the room. He leaned over in Adele's direction. "Hey, I know it must have been stressful there, and I know we lost lycans, that's one reason why I went by myself, I was selfish. I didn't want to go through loosing lycans in my group, so I figured that by going by myself, I could avoid feeling the pain of loosing lycans. But I did not make that same call with you. In this war, losses on both sides are unavoidable, and I know that doesn't make it easier, but I don't want you to beat yourself up about it. You did the best you could with what you had, not many lycans would have done much better. My first time, I only lasted a few minutes before I got so wounded I had to go to the healing ward. But if you get anything else from this monologue I'm giving you, then I hope you get this. I'm proud of you Adele, you did great, and don't you ever forget that. I'm so proud of you." Geoff looked into her eyes and smiled his charming smile to her. He tried not to appear as though he was hitting on her, he just really wanted to get across that he was proud of her.

[Peter Sharpe]

Sharpe had been in America when news reached his ears of the attempted destruction of the Lycan Den in Stockholm. As interim leader of the Lycan Den in New York, it had been quite some time since Peter had seen battle first hand, his time instead spent helping the younger Lycans adjust to their new lives. Or perhaps it wasn't a coincidence that he hadn't the urge for the blood of his enemies since Arai had dissapeared. But things had changed. The Pack had been assaulted on their own territory in the dead of night. These vampires had endangered the life of Sharpe's step-brother, Geoff, Alena, and the countless others he had befriended and fought with side by side. This transgression would not go unanswered. The White Lycan would once more cross the ocean, and the Lycan's would once more take back the night. Leaving the Den in New York in capable hands, he departed for Stockholm immediately, with his protégé, Jason Lagana in tow.

They arrived in Sweden in the dead of night, the chances of hailing a taxi were slim to none. Knowing this, they set off towards the Den at a brisk pace. When thye arrived at the wrought iron gates surrounding the Den, Sharpe knew something was amiss. The Den was nearly empty, and upon entering the building, it's inhabitants were all non-combatants, left behind to relay messages and keep watch over the grounds. Apparently the Lycan's had been sent by Alena to take back the city of Rome just two days ago. Cursing his horrible timing, he opened his mind to communicate with Jason, who he'd left at the gate. They would need another set of plane tickets.

By the time Sharpe and Jason made it to Rome, the invasion had been under way for nearly a week. Though he doubted the humans even had the slightest hint that their city was under siege, the familiar scent of his fellow Lycans, paired with the sickly sweet scent of their ancient foes assaulted his nose from the moment he exited the pressurized cabin of the Boeing 777. It would not be difficult to locate his bretheren, between the Lycan's mental link, and their keen senses of both smell and hearing, Sharpe and Jason found their way to the front. According to his thirty second field briefing, the Lycan's had been split into countless parties of between five and ten, and send to purge the city of it's vampiric plague, one coven at a time. Though the vampires could not match the Lycan's might, and suffered heavy casulties in the first week, Sharpe could sense many injured Lycans. As a leader, this was his duty, to protect his allies. He wouldn't allow himself to lose another Arai. The campaign dragged out much longer than Sharpe had anticipated... the vampires stooping as low as to ambush parties of injured Lycans falling back from the front lines, only to be butchered by the two white lycans escorting them back to the makeshift medical ward. Eventually, the battle died down, and skirmishes between the Lycans and vampires had ceased entirely. Sharpe wasn't sure if this was due to the vampires simply cutting their losses and abandoning the city, or if in fact each and every one of them was now a pile of dust in a forgotten corner of the Roman underworld. It didn't matter either way. What mattered was the fact that Sharpe hadn't seen his step-brother, Geoff. He reassured himself that he would be at the debriefing. Though he was younger, Geoff had always been strong, both as a human, and as a Lycan. But then, this wasn't a highschool fist fight.

Once again at the Den in Stockholm, he attempted to remain calm as he was taken to the third floor, and instructed to await the debriefing there. Supressing his trepidation, he entered the room, taking note of those inside. Among the Lycans inside was his step-brother, talking to a small blonde girl he hadn't met before. Releasing a long mental sigh of relief, he took a few steps into the room, eventually meeting Alena's gaze.

"I have news from America, m'lady."

[Pablo]

A light whistle could be heard approaching the room. Its tune was a rather upbeat and joyful one. It meant one thing; the arrival and presence of none other than Pablo. He pushed the door open and greeted his fellow lycans with a smile. It made him happy to see that all of his friends were for the most part in one piece, except of course for Damien, but he didn't count. "Good morning." He spoke unbeknownst of the actual time of the day. Pablo gave the room a quick scan before taking his place next to Pete. The boy was ecstatic to see his good friend. Now that he was back in Europe and they were no longer dealing with the blood suckers in Rome they had time to catch up. Perhaps, even go on an adventure or two before he finally needed to return to the Americas. For a little he lost his self in his thoughts until he finally broke out of it and came to a realization. Had they all been waiting on him? That's no good..... I've been back in the den since yesterday. The boy thought to himself. It appeared that Pablo didn't treat this kind of thing as seriously as the others, but who could blame the kid when everything came so easy to him.

He could tell, just by the demeanor of the others in the room. His experience with Rome was much different than the others. Rome to him was no big deal, it wasn't the first mission Pablo participated and lead a squad in and certainly wouldn't be the last. It was another day in the park for him. Pablo led the same group of lycans that he always did. They were a team; they knew each other and their habits like the back of their hands. His squad played off of each other's strength and weaknesses. Pablo was more than prepared to rid his sector of Rome from the vampire scum. He didn't like to brag, but it was fair to say that his team strolled through Rome. Under his orders they carried out quick and precise attacks against dozens of the vampire's covens. While the majority of the time they relied on the brute force of their werewolf forms; some days they used stealth, taking out the vampires while they slept, there were a few occasions when they went in guns a blazing, and then there was the moments were Pablo would rely on military grade explosives to do the job. While he treated the matter at hand like work, he made sure that he and his crew got some enjoyment out of it.

Not that the whole experience was just fun and games. There were no deaths, but a handful of injuries. Most of them coming when a trio of pups thought it would be smart to approach one of the vampire holdouts while Pablo was turning it into a firework show. That had been around the beginning of the campaign. The three of them were for the most part healed by now, two of them even managed to get back into the action. Pablo cracked down on them though and made sure they received a good talking to. Despite what some may believe he knew to keep his soldiers in line. It was why his campaign was so effective; it's also why there hadn't been any vampire appearances in his sector for many months now. It allowed him to fly up to Sweden a day before everybody, heck he could have done it weeks ago if he wished, but there were other sectors that required his assistance. Besides, he would never pass up on an opportunity to tear through a few vampires.

So there he was now back in the den, after spending the better of half of two years in Rome. His face carried the same shit-eating grin it always did when romping in vampire guts. By now, he'd forgotten of his late arrival and now impatiently waited for the debriefing to begin. Maybe now he could have some time off to go on another of his adventures before the next campaign begins.

[Geoff]

Geoff had just finished talking with Adele when Pablo walked in. Geoff saw Pablo sit down next to Pete and he felt bad that he didn't even notice Pete walk in because he was talking to Adele. Geoff turned back to Adele and said, "I'll be back in a bit, gotta go talk to Pete." Geoff quietly got up and grabbed the other seat next to Pete.

"Hey, how are ya? It's been a while and we didn't get to see each other that much in Rome either." Geoff put his hand on Pete's shoulder to comfort him as a step-brother always should. Geoff hadn't seen Pete in a long time, Geoff stayed in Europe while Pete had been in the America's. And Geoff fought in downtown Rome closer to his house and Pete was obviously not in downtown Rome, or at least Geoff didn't notice him there, but Geoff had gone into his part of Rome alone. Pete was the only family Geoff had left and he wanted to make sure Pete was doing alright and he also wanted to keep him safe. "How'd ya do in Rome?"

[Alena Wulf]

As Alena stood and the room slowly filled, the Lycan Mother met the eyes of each of the Werewolves she'd assigned as pack leaders for the conquest of Rome. To Damien and Geoff she smiled pleasantly, "You're the first to have arrived."
When Adele entered the room, Alena grinned and beckoned the girl to come closer and join the group. After Pete and Pablo arrived, Alena leaned back against the desk, resting her hands along the edge. "Good. I see the majority of you have returned in one piece." The Mother of Lycanthropy rested her gaze on the oldest blond in the room, "Pete. I wasn't anticipating your presence in Europe, or I might have waited to include you more formally within my plans for the siege." Alena rested a hand idly on the wolf standing beside her and looked around the group, "I want to hear each of your assessment's on the performance of your groups in Rome. But first, Pete, what news do you bring from the States?"

[Peter Sharpe]

Sharpe waited patiently for the meeting to begin, leaning against a wall on the south side of the room, closest to the door, arms crossed, and eyes closed. That is, his eyes were closed until his keen sense of hearing picked up something that his Lycanthropic mind-link had not. He could pick out that tune from the busiest street of New York, over even the most fantastic of pyrotechnics the whistler had concocted. It was no wonder Sharpe hadn't noticed his presence earlier... Pablo was perhaps the only Lycan he had ever met with the ability to close off his own mental-link. He made a note to ask Alena of this particular talent at a later time. Pablo looked just as he had when he had left Sharpe in America. His eyes were full of mischief, and Sharpe could detect the faint hints of cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine. This was the same boy he'd grown up with. They shared adventures, they fought vampires, and they consumed copious amounts of pizza together. Pablo had risked life and limb to help Sharpe and company establish a foothold in the Americas. Pablo was one of only a handful of Lycans that Pete would trust with his life, and in the event of his death, would likely take his place at the den in New York.

"Good morning? It's two thirty in the afternoon." Sharpe whispered to Pablo, exposing his fangs in his signature smirk. It's great to see you, I haven't spoken with anyone since... his voice trailed off. He hadn't spoken of Arai's disappearance. He wasn't even sure if Pablo had heard the news...

Moments after Pablo had entered the room, Geoff had approached him. It had been years since he'd seen his step-brother, and even longer since he'd seen either set of parents. Geoff was the only link to Pete's humanity. A never-aging reminder of who he was, and where he came from. Sharpe would always cherish that bond, because as far as he was aware, his Lycanthropic body would be unaffected by the ravages of time, and centuries from now, he would still have that bond long after everything else had withered away. Of this he had no doubt. Geoff naturally had a strong constitution, and his Lycanthropic form only seemed to enhance his traits exponentially. Sharpe chuckled, a thought crossing his mind. No natural force, and few unnatural, would be capable of defeating Geoff. Though despite this, Sharpe still viewed him as a younger brother, and worried about him from time to time.

"Rome was a success," Sharpe said, clasping Geoff's shoulder. "Though I wish I would have arrived sooner, I've been behind a desk giving orders for far too long. Here I can make an impact. It's about time the White Lycan returned from his retirement."

He would have likely continued conversing with Pablo and Geoff, perhaps even introduced himself to the two strange golden-eyed Lycans, but Alena had addressed him. Though fairly certain he held more status than the average Lycan pup, Alena was not one to be kept waiting. We've been fairly busy in New York m'lady. I've established a den, and my own Lycan's are slowly driving the vampyre filth out of our cities in your name. I heard rumors that we'd been attacked in our own capital... I returned to offer my assistance in punishing these foolish leeches."