414 CHPT 414: Actions Can be Quite Infectious...

It seems the Hunter's eyes were hidden for a reason. Hell, there was a reason for everything so far. One perfect occurrence that drew a straight line towards the quirks, skills and appearances that made up the man known as Cassidy Coldheart. His deductive skills, stemming from his father being a Detective-- a heroic one at that it seemed. How unlike the status quo. His acceptance of that which was different... his connection to dogs. Perfectly connected. One line from point a to b.

Claude had fallen into a silence once again. The group stayed that way as they rummaged through Camaco, twisting and turning down alleys and across Altars until they reached the edge of the city. He didn't speak again until they were far from the entrance walls. Far from the seemingly different world. The desert had grown to be calming-- odd considering a desert is where his race met it's abrupt end. It seemed many things were just beginning for him in the sands here....

Speaking of, his mind was beginning to become an unbearable place to be in once more. Cluttered, stuffed, anxious.

"You know....."

Cassidy perked up at Claude's words from atop Diamondback.

"You don't smell like a WereWolf..... and you didn't change during the battle even though it was a Full Moon." Claude said, suspicion riding the ridges of his spine like a spider scaling a wall.

"My mother was human. Very human. Bless her heart." Cassidy replied.

"[Inheritor. Never really heard of the Silver Curse transferring in such a way.]" Arne cut in.

"So, you're an Inheritor?" Claude threw out the hail marry unapologetically as they walked through the dark desert.

Cassidy looked over at Claude, the shadows cast by his hood hid the bulk of his confused expression, "Is that what they call the children of Shifters for your kind?"

"....Yes."

"I see...."

"I guess that's not what they called you." Claude assumed.

Cassidy shrugged, "I didn't get much exposure to my father and his pack. But a Witch did roll through town once. She said I was Wolf-Born. That's all I've ever gotten I'm afraid."

"So, you're not a WereWolf?"

"No." Cassidy started, "I'm a man-- a little different from most. But a man, all the same. I can speak to Wolves-- train a wild dog into the best home protector as long as I'm given time. I can see in the dark, I can smell the blood on a man's hands even if he just spent hours trying to remove it... and my eyes. Among other things."

"Interesting....."

"[Interesting indeed. Lupine Inheritors were said to be similar to this... Wolf-Born. My guess is the Magic of the Silver Cursed found its way into Cassidy in small doses-- only changing the smallest pieces of him from the beginning of his inception, just enough to make him different.... wolf-like, but still human. He'd probably have a higher chance of surviving being changed into a full fledged WereWolf as well.... maybe even being stronger than most.]"

Inheritors suddenly sounded powerful. Now Claude understood the Inheritor Lupines being hunted down was far more important than he would've once thought.

"Well. Now that I know all this, I would like to know how it ended." Claude said. "What led you to... this."

"My father had connections-- bigger than himself by miles. He was doing a good thing for a long time, but to truly make change, he understood he needed more power.... more numbers. The last few times I spoke to him, he told me he'd gained new allies. Shifters. Powerful and intelligent beings that didn't need the assistance of the Moon to gain their true power. They were rarities in his world-- not just for their abilities but for their willingness to help and learn. He said it was there that he'd be able to do some real good. With them."

Claude's spine tingled again as he tightened the grip on his spear. "That sounds awfully familiar, Arne."

"[Indeed. It seems Cassidy's father found one of the final Lupine Packs to exist... I know how this story ends now.]"

And so did Claude.

"Anywho." Cassidy started, "That was the last time I saw my old man. Then my home was attacked-- my whole town, destroyed by no more than five of them."

"Shifters...." Claude added.

"Shifters that didn't need a god damned Full Moon. I'll never know the truth. Could've been a deal gone bad.... maybe a dispute over territory... betrayal. Whatever it was, my father never got to reach his goal."

Claude suddenly wished he could explain how much Cassidy misunderstood his own father's demise-- how he didn't understand that the Lupines of Remus trashed the city in search of him, but it wasn't the time. Not yet at least.

"And what were your father's motivations?" Claude asked.

"Winning. Winning in life. He was competitive to a fault, and he saw our worlds conditions as a game. He thought Humans could be victorious if they understood one thing, it wasn't Man against Monster, It was us against adversity. And adversity comes in many forms, many languages and many traits. So do we.... us. We just have to be willing to take a step back and look at the clues for what they are. He told me that shit like it was religious text." Cassidy explained.

Look at the clues for what they are.... like Romulus and Remus in the cave. One found beings working cohesively despite their difference, the other found enemies in everything....a justification for rampant paranoia.

"[Hmmm.... it seems Mr. Coldheart was following the word of Romulus.]" Arne said.

"And you to believe in this.... us against adversity?" Claude questioned.

"I don't know...." Cassidy explained, "I do think the norms of this world need to be challenged-- but that only comes when people like my father take action. Visionaries-- people willing to jump over that ledge. The only problem is, these people are usually found way too late."

Like Cassidy's father..... Like Romulus-- who was never truly found.... like Rollan before his hope was beaten out of existence. Like how many countless others?

The two traveled in silence a while longer as Claude let everything settle in his mind. He had Cassidy's origins, his upbringing, his change-- the end. There were no discrepancies, no moments of suspicion. He just had one more question.

"Why are you here Cassidy? Why do you choose to help and teach me? What do you get out of it?"

The camp loomed in the distance, a section of sanded over grass and trees in the shadows of a large rock formation. Frosty, Gil and Cassidy's Hounds howled in excitement at the sight of them as Ursula and Piet got up from a set of push ups.

"I'm here-- I've been watching you ever since I saw you in that bar.... clueless and determined to get some answers."

"Well that's not creepy at all." Claude said.

"I told you I'm drawn to endangered things... rarity."

"How Vampiric of you." Claude said.

"Maybe. But I'm here for a reason, nonetheless."

"....."

"You remind me of my father."

"Man, I'm sixteen....."

"You and I both know that means very little right now..."

Claude didn't respond.

"From what I've seen, you're that man that's willing to jump. You're becoming a visionary, Claude Grey. It's like I said, the world always finds people like you too late.... too close to the end. And then there you were, walking with that freckle faced Berserker, Night Running-- actually helping people! Despite your own obvious troubles. And then I found you again, hunting Raiders.... and again, fighting off a legion of Demons alongside the Monsters the world believes is an unchangeable foe. And you're only sixteen. Nobody goes through all this without a strong determination for something beyond just themselves. That takes will power few people can muster up. You're the one, Claude. The one I found before it was too late." Cassidy explained.

Well. That was a chunk to take in.

Claude and Cassidy came to a stop a few dozen feet away from the camp and the others outside. As Cassidy hopped off the back of Diamondback with the armor and gear filled bag at his back, Claude spoke finally.

"So, what-- you want me to change the world? You see how that sounds right?"

"It sounds crazy. But you're already doing it, partner. Look around.. actions are infectious." Cassidy said while pointing over at the camp occupied by Berserker, Satyr, Druid, Dinosaur, Banshee and much more.

"....and you want to.... help?" Claude followed along.

"I want to join your cause. Whatever it is, I think as a byproduct you can change the world for the better. You can do what my father wasn't able to. So yes, I want to be a member of this band of misfits.... this hybrid pack. And I think I can truly be a valuable asset."

"How so..?" Claude questioned as Ursula and Piet grew closer in the distance.

"Well, a WereWolf Alpha is only as strong as how many WereWolves follow him. I don't think you're a WereWolf..... actually, I think I have an idea of just what you are. I also think that sentiment applies here...."

Claude's skin chilled, "Cassidy, what are you saying."

"I'm saying, I want to be made like you."