Authors note:: This is a story that I just thought of one night after reading this other short story and it just clicked. I enjoy werewolves and vampires, and I thought I would have a hot guy be a werewolf to accompany a teenage girl. Ah, the fantasies I come up with......trust me you do not wanna know what goes on in my head....((Rose: seriously, she’s a bit on the perverted side)) Hey! I’m a teenage girl that’s getting attacked by hormonal overloads!! Give me a break will ya? ((Rose: I’m a teenage girl, and I don’t think of perverted stuff )) --‘....yeah yeah, just read the story, it ain’t got any of that stuff in it...((Rose: lol))

More Author’s Note:: This is the first in a series of short stories about Suren and Kore. The name of the series is Moonlight DM (DM stands for death march, I like the way the initials sound leave me alone). Don’t ask why I don’t just put them into one big story, I just felt like doing it this way. Writing them in short story format is easier to do than one big story with a bunch of chapters....

Disclaimer:: (do I even need it??) I own these characters, the only thing I took was the name Suren from Adrian’s character (who is actually me, only he put the name Suren on me --‘ I hated it before but now I like it ). Do not take Kore, as he is my beloved werewolf, and you shall face the wrath of the White Fox if you do.....

In the Eyes of the Moon

By:: Daho Kitsune

Suren looked over the ruined village before her. The smell of blood was still fresh. Mutilated bodies were everywhere. The fire had died down. She wiped off her sword and placed it back in its scabbard. She bent down to pick up the pendent that was cut off her neck during the battle. A breezed cane through, and the bodies and village gradually disappeared. A massive black panther came to her side. She placed her right hand on its head and gazed at the pendent. Her emerald eyes studied it, recognition flashing in them. It had an impression of a snarling jaguar molded into it. Suren had stolen the pendent from what seemed to have been this simple farming village in the mountains. She placed the pendent in a pouch around her waist and turned around. She walked up the grassy hill towards a large auburn stallion at the top. A tall male was standing next to it. He was young and handsome, his short brown hair rustling gently in the breeze. His hazel eyes had a glint in them, and he smiled, revealing sharp fangs.

“So, did ya get the artifact?”

Suren glared at him with her large eyes.

“Yes. I did, no thanks to YOU”

The male shrugged.

“I did more than my fair share by locating and taking ya to this place. Instead of looking at me like that, you should be kissing me right now”, he said with a wink. Suren shook her head impatiently, her ebony hair cascading down her back. Tch.....canines...

“Enough of the antics Kore, there are still three more artifacts to go”

Kore smirked at her before mounting the stallion. He nudged it with his heel and he started trotting away. Suren climbed onto the back of the panther.

“Let’s go Adelpha”

They caught up to Kore. He continued to trot at a steady pace, walking towards the sunset. He had a broad, but lean figure, his skin tanned. He had pointed ears and an oval face. Beard stubble was starting to show, but that just made him more manly. He had a small wolf-ish grin on his face, showing his contentment at the moment. He glanced down at Suren, who was deep in thought. A glint appeared in his eyes as he gazed at her body. She was only 17, yet she had the body of a woman already. The soft fabric of her red blouse and skirt gently outlined her curves. Her dignified posture just made her bosom more noticeable, but she never seemed to notice. She never cared about what people thought of her, or of her enjoyment in the non-lady-like sport of fighting. She was considered a tomboy in her hometown, but she didn’t mind wearing pretty blouses or skirts. Suren glanced at Kore and noticed him studying her. She glared at him.

“What do you want now?”

Kore leered at her and licked his lips.

“You KNOW what I want”

Suren gave an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes.

“I’m not going to even dignify that with a response”

Kore just chuckled. Suren ignored him and went back into her deep thought.

Suren was devising a plan that would take place once she has all five artifacts. Once I get them all, then I can go home again....and see my family again, I can free them finally...She already acquired the first two artifacts. She did not know very much about the other three, but she has learned some important clues to their whereabouts. Suren did not sense any special powers coming from the sword and the pendent, and she used her strongest magic detection spells. She had gotten very skilled with her magic on account of this journey, so the powers of these items are either dormant or non-existent.

Kore and Suren arrived at a small village in the plains just as the sun set below the horizon, turning the sky into a beautiful mix of red, orange, and purple, finally fading into dark blue on the opposite horizon. They walked towards a shabby looking inn, after Adelpha transformed into a black house cat and leapt into Suren’s arms. Kore dismounted the horse, and tied him to a post.

“Aye, this should be good for tonight. Hopefully the food is good here”

“And if it’s not, you could always turn into that wolf thing and eat the innkeepers”

“Oh, you have a sense of humor? Strange, I never would have guessed that about ya”

“.......there are many things you don’t know about me....”

They walked inside the inn and waited for someone to appear so they could go into their rooms.

“Oh? Well why don’t you show me, once we get our rooms...I want to learn everything about you..”

He placed his left hand on her bottom and squeezed it.

“Oh really? Then learn this”

She kneed him and he doubled over. Tsk...you canines never learn....

“Uh, hello, is everything alright?”

A squat middle aged woman came out. She was looking at Suren and Kore (who was still on the ground wincing in pain) with a mix of confusion and uncertainty. Suren smiled sweetly at her.

“Oh no, everything’s fine. This lug just accidently hurt himself on the door that’s all”

“augh...door....my...ass...:

Suren kicked him. She still kept smiling at the lady.

“Are you the innkeeper? We need a couple of rooms for the night”

The woman never stopped staring at them but she nodded.

“Uh, yes, I am. We only have one room available though...”

Kore was able to stand now.

“I’ll take the room. This feisty little thing can sleep in the barn where she belongs-ow!”

Kore was doubled over again. The lady innkeeper slowly went behind the counter.

“Ma’am, please, do not hurt the other guests in this inn or I will have to call the guards”

Suren shook her head.

“I won’t”

The innkeeper nodded slowly, as if she didn’t believe her, and led them to the last empty room at the end of the hallway. Suren paid the woman and opened the door. It was a bit shabby, but fine for one night. There was a fireplace in the corner, and a bathroom. But only one bed. Kore snorted. Suren went back to the woman.

“Are you sure this is the only room available?”

The innkeeper nodded. Suren sighed.

“Well, would you happen to have any extra mattresses or beds around here then?”

The woman shook her head. Dammit...how the hell am I supposed to sleep in the same bed as that wolf?! He’s completely perverted!

Suren walked back to the room, bitterness showing on her face. Kore had already changed his clothes and was putting on his boots when she walked in. He smirked at her knowingly, and she glared death at him, daring him to even utter a simple grunt. Kore took the hint and didn’t say anything about the situation. He finished tying his boots and headed for the door.

“I’m off to the local tavern here. Wanna come?”

“Hn, no”

Kore shrugged.

“Suit yerself”

Then he left.

Suren waited for about 10 minutes to make sure he was really gone. Then she pulled out the sword and pendent and laid them on the bed. She started up a fire using her magic. The items gleamed in the firelight. Suren got up and went to her small bag for clothes. She took out a pair of soft cotton black pants and a sleeveless shirt. She then took off her bouse and skirt and placed them in the bag. She stood in front of the mirror in her underwear. The bandages across her chest were supposed to hold in her breasts but they started to hurt every time she tried to flatten them now. She undid the bandages and looked at her body in the mirror. hn..they’re getting bigger, this is something I DON’T need...She placed the bandages in her bag, picked up her pants and shirt, and got dressed. She shook her long, shiny black hair before braiding it into a simple plait down her back.

She walked back towards the bed and sat down on the edge, listening for anyone that might come in to disturb her. There was no on. Not even the innkeeper was moving about much. Suren, satisfied with the privacy, picked up the pendent and gazed at it. Her hand started to glow a soft blue, and Suren closed her eyes. She could feel it, a sort of magic fingerprint of the last person who touched it. The power coming from this startled her. How come she’s now detecting something? Just a few hours earlier, she couldn’t detect anything, even when she used her strongest magic detection spells. A sharp cry jerked her out of her trance. People outside were screaming. Dammit Kore...did you get drunk again?? She quickly slipped on her boots and ran out. The moon was full behind the few clouds in the black sky. The villagers seemed to be running from someone-or something far on her right. A black figure, too far away to be seen clearly, lumbered slowly down the street. All of a sudden, the being stretched up its neck, and howled. That confirmed Suren’s guess. She sighed, and started walking towards the being. It stood up and stretched its neck to howl again at the moon that just reappeared from behind the clouds. It looked like an overgrown wolf, but it stood on its hind legs. Its brown fur was extremely shaggy, and two piercing yellow eyes narrowed at the sight of Suren.

“Kore! Snap out of it!”

He turned his whole body to face her. His fangs gleamed menacingly as he growled at her.

“Kore! Go back to your human form! Now!”

He ignored her and lunged. Suren easily sidestepped out of the way, and delivered a blow to the base of his skull with her leg. The hit stunned him and he fell, lying still on the ground. Suren then muttered some incantations and Kore began reverting back to his human-looking form. The villagers started peeking out of their houses and hiding places to view in awe of Suren and Kore. They’ve never seen anything like it, and it scared them. These newcomers were strange, and dangerous. Kore shook his head and rubbed the back of it, dazed.

“Uh...shit, what happened?

“You got drunk again! THAT’S what happened!”

“Hm?...oh aye, I guess I stirred up some trouble again eh?”

Suren clocked him in the head again.

“You idiot! Now the whole town knows you’re not human! I wouldn’t be surprised if they kick us out the moment we get back to the inn!”

“Ah well I guess we’ll hafta sleep under the moon together again”, he said with a wink.

Suren rolled her eyes with a disgusted sigh, and she headed back towards the inn. She stormed into the room, threw the pendent into her bag, and strapped the sword around her waist. The innkeeper was standing at the entrance with a gun.

“V-very good, you leave now. Do not come back to this town”

Suren ignored her and went out. The moon was behind the clouds again. Adelpha was still in her cat form, and she was waiting on the horse. Kore was busy untiing its harness.

“Aye Suren, I think we ought to leave quickly, the townspeople are starting to act strange”

“Gee, maybe it’s because they know you’re a werewolf?”

“No, I mean they are not acting like normal humans...that they start behaving strange whenever the moon goes behind the clouds..”

“Wait, what?”

Suren looked behind her and saw that Kore was right. It seemed that half of the villagers were grouped up behind her, slowly coming towards them. Their faces were blank, their eyes dazed. They had their hands held out in front of them, ready to grab anything in reach. They kept coming closer and closer, and Suren was feeling alarmed. Adelpha turned back into her panther form and Suren quickly jumped onto her back to flee. She and Kore only went a few feet before they saw another horde of villagers, acting the same way, block the road in front of them. Crap...we’re surrounded...

“Shit Kore, what the hell is going on?!”

“I’ve seen this before. These people are zombies”

“Zombies?”

“Yes the walking dead. They feed on the living and are as creepy as hell, but we should be able to defeat them easily”

Suren wasn’t so sure, but she drew her sword and lunged at them. All of a sudden they started moving faster and surrounded her. No..there’s too many! Suren couldn’t’ slash them all fast enough, they seemed to be multiplying on the spot. She could feel their clammy touch grabbing at her throat and arms. She twisted around, but it wasn’t enough. There were too many, and she felt like she was suffocating from the stench. They pressed in on her too closely, and she couldn’t swing her sword. Her throat was trapped in an extremely strong grip and she was growing weaker by the second. Her eyes started becoming blurry and she started feeling lighter. She was too weak to struggle. She knew she was dying. There was a voice calling to her in the distance, but she didn’t care. She was floating, she was free, and the light ahead was comforting and beautiful.

“Suren!”

Kore rammed his way through the horde of zombies using all his strength to slash them away. He managed to get closer to where Suren was at.

“Suren! Dammit wake up! Use the fire magic!”

The voice in the distance shouted again. Something about fire. Fire? Suren felt herself get pulled away from the light. What? No! She was back in her body. Her body that was about to get eaten. Use the fire magic!

“V-vulcar...”

A gigantic red blast exploded from her body and the screams of the zombies quickly died away, leaving only a bit of dust where they once stood. Suren laid on the ground, unconscious. Panting hard, Kore ran over to her and lifted her head up slightly.

“Suren! Suren talk to me!”

She didn’t move.

“Suren! I know you’re alive dammit!”

Suren heard the voice again, only it was closer. Her head was pounding and she struggled to open her eyes. Kore breathed a sigh of relief.

“Suren, we’re ok now. They’re gone”

And so was the town. Whatever life that seemed to have existed here was now gone, leaving behind a ghost town. Suren rubbed her neck where she was choked ans sat up. Adelpha nuzzled her on the cheek and Suren laid her head on Adelpha’s shoulder. Dammit....I almost got defeated by a bunch of dead people...and in front of Kore too, he’ll never let me live it down...She looked at Kore, who still had a slightly anxious look on his face.

“Were you actually worried about me?”

“Well...somewhat I guess, I mean...never mind”

Kore shook his head and stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes. He looked at Suren.

“You’re ok now right? Once I find my horse we can go find a place to sleep, there’s no way in hell I’m staying here”

Kore walked off. Suren gingerly stood up and mounted Adelpha’s back. She picked up her sword and retied it around her waist. Her bag was lying about 10 yards away. Kore reappeared with the stallion and they set off towards the moon-lighted plains. Once they were out of the village, Suren looked over her shoulder. In the middle of the gloomy main street there was a lone dark figure standing there. Suren could feel it looking right at her. The figure stayed for a moment before the wind came again, and it vanished. Suren shivered and caught up to Kore.

“What the hell are you doing? Do you and the cat want to sleep by the dead town?”

Suren ignored his comment and just rolled her eyes. She was actually glad he was with her right now. He did technically save her after all. Suren smiled slightly, a quick fleeting smile that no one saw, and they continued their journey under the moonlight.

End...for now