Silver Moon: Bk. 02 Ch. 09

Once Dan had finished eating dinner with Pam and the two little Kitsunes he called for the healers and Geoff. He needed any and all information they had on the female wolf so he could see about contacting Amaratsue. When Geoff walked in he smiled and gave him a good nod. "Have a seat Geoff and have something to drink. The others I called for should be here shortly. I am going to get all the information I can on the wolf, where she might have come from, and what was done to her. I was considering meditating on it and trying to contact Amaratsue but I decided I have a better connection sitting on my lap." Dan looked down at Amariah as he stroke her ears.

She looked up at him and smiled. *I would like to see mommy and daddy. It hasn't been long but I's miss them.* She went back to the sewing she was doing. It wasn't great but she was learning and really enjoyed it. In this case it was fixing a tear in a shirt.

Geoff had to smile. "I don't blame you for missing them. I miss mine when I have to leave for a while and I am all grown up." He reached over and tickled an ear only to get growled at. Geoff pulled his hand back and settled for taking a sip of his coffee. "How are you feeling Dan? I know it has been pretty rough on you."

He shrugged. "Actually I feel pretty good. I couldn't even begin to tell you what my Mistress did for me but I actually feel very good. I am more tired than normal but that is to be expected. Have they found anything out about the room? What about connections to any of the staff or officials?" He hadn't seen inside the room so he had no idea what might be in there.

Geoff snarled something in Kitsune. "We have barely had a chance to really start examining the room but it is steeped in evil. Just walking into the room is enough to make me want to shower and vomit. The layers of pain, suffering, and death in the room speak of long term suffering and use. I have contacted Mother and she is going to send several of our best down. It might be a good idea of you contacted the other clans and have them send their experts down as well."

Dan raised an eyebrow and covered Amariah's ears. "Geoff please there are innocent ears in the room." When Geoff recommended contacting the other clans he had to pause and think about it. "Ah, the Leader of the Clans bit right? I will do that once we are done here. I think I am going to task some of the Kitsune warriors to ride heard on the pups since they are still searching. There are several more locations that Amarish has identified. Right now from what Pam said earlier, as they are doing their mouse hunting any place that feels wrong gets noted. Amarish is being extremely careful when they encounter any of those locations. As soon as one is sensed he notes it in the map he is making and then reports it to Maric."

Geoff nodded as Dan talked. "That is a very good idea. The room was the central source of the plague of horror in the palace but those other locations are still dangerous. Once they are identified then we can start removing them. What I really want to know is who or what is the source of this pestilence. It is very old and steeped in evil. This has been decades if not generations in the making. Whatever the source is the disparate magic varieties indicate a great deal of training. I can't even identify half of the magic's involved." That was said with a rather grumpy tone.

Dan leaned over and gave Geoff's arm a gentle squeeze. "Believe me I know how you feel Geoff and there will always be something you don't know no matter how long you live. I am over two hundred years old and still learning new things. I have to agree that this has the feel of a very long term game. Someone with a very long life has a grudge against someone and has been taking his time to set things up. I also get the feeling that whoever is behind this isn't close. There is a sense of distance to the individual."

Right about then the others he called for walked in. "Have a seat ladies and gentleman. I am going to keep this simple and on point. I want descriptions and drawings of the injuries to the female wolf's body. I also want detailed reports on what magic's appear to have been used as well as impressions of why it might have been done. Make sure you differentiate facts from feelings. Both are valid but I don't want them mixed together. I need them as soon as possible so get to it and I will be waiting." It was abrupt but Dan just couldn't help but feel that there was a time crunch, for the woman if not the rest of the people.

They stood and all but the senior surgeon left. He pulled a file out and handed it to Dan. "These are the drawings; report on the injuries, and impressions. I had a feeling you would be wanting them so I made sure to bring them with." With a nod he left the room.

Dan looked down at the folder and was impressed. "Have you looked at this Geoff?" He rested his hand on it and could feel a disturbance and frowned. He really didn't like the feeling he was getting from it. "Put your hand on it and tell me what you feel."

Geoff shook his head. "No, I haven't had time to look at it with helping to clean up the spiritual mess as well as recovering myself." He leaned forward and pulled the folder to him and did much as Dan did and frowned. "I feel a disruption but it is more of an echo of what was done than anything else." He flipped the folder open and looked at the pictures that had been taken of the woman's body and hissed. "Amariah leave the room now."

Once she had left he started spreading out the pictures and drawings that had been made and hissed again. "This is in high Kitsune that has been corrupted. This is not good at all." He looked up at Dan with concern in his eyes. "You haven't encountered it yet but High Kitsune is essentially the language of the spirit lords. We have been taught some but it is only for the most senior Kitsunes in the clans."

"Different clans have their own variations of the language and usage. It is what gives us the connection and powers related to our color. In your case you would be taught parts of the language for all the clans that look to you. It is one of the reasons Lords and Ladies of the clan's are so rare. In the last thousand years there have only been a total of four of which two are in existence right now. The reason it is so rare is once you have been taught the language you can draw power from the spirit's of all the clans." He really hated having to drop this on Dan all at once.

Dan had to blink and then sighed as he rubbed his temples. "Great, just frigging great, all I have wanted was to be a good Alpha and live a long life with my mate and children. I have never wanted to be some major power player. I can't help but wonder what the gods and goddesses are thinking about me right now. From the sounds of it between Pam and I, we are simply some of the most powerful people in this section of the world." He rubbed his face before giving Geoff a wry grin. "So would you like me to carve out a bit more territory for you to the east of your country?"

Geoff stood up and walked to the sideboard and poured Dan a rather large shot of Tequila and brought it back over. "Honestly other than the Moon Goddess you probably scare the crap out of them. Part of that is because you are literally an unknown factor. You were not born in this world so your fate wasn't fixed in this world. You can do things due to that others simply can't. Your fate in this world is totally up to you." When Dan offered to expand Geoff's country he snorted. "No thanks. I really would hate to have that discussion with mom. I can see it now, 'Oh mom, for all the help you have given Dan he is giving you a gift of more territory'." He shuddered and then shared a laugh with Dan.

~~~

She looked up and then looked at the folder and poofed from Dan's lap. This wasn't good and she was going to talk to her mother. She knew that Danny wanted their input but the feel she had gotten made her think of when Dan was hurt and that scared her. When she appeared in her mother's lap she gave her a big hug. *Momma I's scared. I's felt icky stuff from girl wolfie like I felt from Alpha Danny.*

Amariah hadn't realized she had appeared during the middle of a meeting with one of the other senior spirit Kitsunes. It was one that her mother didn't care for since he was a pompous ass and grew up when females were more a possession than anything else. That was one drawback to the incredibly long lives of the spirits. If they chose not to keep moving and growing it took forever to get them out of a position of power. Being long lived had some advantages as well such as the ability to keep learning as well but it was how the individual handled it.

The elder cleared his throat to get Gin No's attention so they could continue their conversation. "Just a moment elder since this sounds like it might be of critical importance." She looked up at him and when he started to frown she let her eyes start to swirl and change colors. That was usually a bad sign since she only did that when she was starting to feel annoyed. As of now she had been seriously annoyed with him before her daughter had arrived.

"Surely it can wait till this meeting is completed? This is important since it deals with questions on your mates..." He tensed up and her eyes flared silver with her power. He could feel a constriction around his neck and he was frozen in place.

"I asked you for a moment elder and it hadn't been a request. My children know not to disturb me unless it is something they feel is of importance. They aren't always correct and when they make the wrong decision they are educated. I will be with you in a moment." She looked back down at Amariah and stroked her ears. She could feel another small surge of power and Amarish popped up on the desk.

He didn't look happy and looked around and ended up glowering at the elder before looking at Amariah. "What has sissy so upset?" He was wearing his mouse hunting uniform with sword and everything. He walked across the desk and leaned forward and petted her ears. "Someones bothering you sissy?"

She shook her head and tilted her head as he petted her ears. Their mother smiled at them before speaking. "Now show me what you are talking about hun and we will go from there." When Amarish settled down next to his sister and held her hand she waited since they were going to do something together. It didn't take very long before an image of the woman appeared.

It was from earlier when Dan was trying to calm her down. At this point she was completely nude and the scars and torture were clear. The black staining was blatantly obvious as well and Gin No had to take a sharp breath. "You are dismissed Elder since this does not involve you but is of great importance." As she was speaking she was mentally manipulating the image for close up views of some of the wounds.

"Well excuse me." He stood up and stomped out of the room. "This is why females should be taking care of houses and babies, to damn flighty for real responsibilities."

Amariah beat her to the punch with her tail of doom. She wasn't in any mood to deal with stupid people and she magically removed a tail from him and handed it to her mother. "For Danny if he wants it."

The elder screeched when she removed the tail since she hadn't done anything to block the pain of loss. He staggered for a moment before turning and his face was glowing with rage. "Why you little..." Before he could say anything else Amaratsue had appeared and his hand was wrapped around the male's neck.

"You forget yourself. It is not your job to judge my mate or my children. You are banished to your lands till further notice." He reached down and ripped a second tail off before heaving the man down the hall. "Guards escort him off my domain and ensure wards are placed to restrict him to his small estate."

Amaratsue walked in and closed the door before looking at the tail in his hand. The end was a bit on the bloody side since he had literally ripped it off. He hadn't bothered with magic the way Amariah had. With a glance he sealed the end of the tail and tossed it on the table. "I wonder if Pam would like a set of matched tail earrings. Nah, I wouldn't degrade her by giving her these tails."

Gin No couldn't help but give him a look filled with lust and desire. "For a nine-tail you are one sexy male my mate. Now for what brought Amariah here. Look at this." She stuck her fingers into the image and expanded it for a better view.

Amaratsue looked over her shoulder and snarled. When he spoke it was obvious someone else was speaking through him and with him. "I am not pleased with this perversion. I release my restrictions placed on you my children. Do what is needed to remove the perversion and restore the balance. If this is not to happen we will have to move worlds again and deprive another world of magic." When the voice spoke through Amaratsue he started glowing slightly and his eyes went blank till the voice was done.

When it left he staggered and would have fallen if his mate hadn't caught him. "Oh fuck, the blackness is back." With that his eyes rolled up in his head and he collapsed on the floor.

~~~

At the Silver Moon manor Alysson was working on another pile of documents caused by Dan. Jon was sitting in the office helping her and listening to her mutter at Dan. "If he keeps this up it is a damn good thing I have silver hair already or I would be gray by the time he is done." Another document went into her outbox as she was muttering. "I still have a feeling that he is the root cause Amaratsue and Red are down a tail each. I can't help but wonder what the Moon Goddess is using them for? Fox tails for gathering moon dust maybe?"

Jon stared at her and his lips started twitching when she mentioned dusting with a fox tail. He was barely able to keep from laughing his ass off at his wife. The only reason he didn't was because he could tell she was feeling grouchy at the moment. "I am sure she isn't using them for that love. She probably has them hanging in a nice display box for her pack to enjoy looking at." Okay, maybe a bit of humor would be okay.

Alysson glanced up at him and glowered at him. "How would you like one of your tails to be on display? I can arrange it if you would like." Damn it she was feeling edgy right now and she wasn't sure why.

Jon smiled at her. "No thank you hun, my tails are fine where they are at and not nearly as fluffy as some others I can think of." He started to lower his head back to the document he was looking at when his tails twitched. He sat up and frowned. "You aren't really..." That was as far as he got before his mate tensed up and started speaking as well.

"Gather our children and guard them well. Contact all the clans and go to the corrupted lands. Give the Leaders of the Clans all of your support. The Darkness is back. Be in the corrupted lands with your finest by the moon." She gasped and shuddered as the voice withdrew. Her eyes were totally dilated in shock at what had just happened. "Oh no, all the spirits bless us for we will need it."

Jon hurried around the desk and pulled a flask out of one drawer. It was for emergencies only and would revive her long enough to get plans in motion. "Drink and give it a few minutes to work. I am going to start making calls." Once she had he held her for a moment till Uncle walked in.

"I will take care of her Jon. Go make the calls. The elders are already on their way. We will take care of things with my sister." He gracefully moved across the room and took over from Jon.

With a nod Jon let her brother take over the care of her for the moment. "If you need anything I will be next door in my office." He hurried out and after pulling out his phone list he started making calls. It started with Ben and Sheliae.

~~~

Back at the palace Dan and Geoff were still talking when both were contacted by Gin No. It took both of them a moment to uncross their eyes before they could move. Dan didn't even blink before grabbing his sword and slung it as the two of them walked out. As they were heading towards the throne room others were following them as well. By the time they had arrived every wolf of Dan's and all the Kitsunes were gathered.

The doors shut behind the last one to enter and a surge of power could be felt as they were sealed. Moments later the seven spirit Lords and their mates, or soon to be mates, appeared in the room. Everyone went down to their knee out of respect. Amaratsue glanced at the throne and with a sigh was helped to it and he sat down. "Everyone rise and I am not taking the throne. I had a visitation not very long ago and am still recovering from that."

Dan wasn't really sure what that meant but based on everyone else's reaction it was shocking. While he was standing there Pam moved over next to him and he wrapped an arm around her. "If I may be so bold but what was the visitation about Spirit Lord?"

Amaratsue looked over at Dan and smiled slightly. "I am pleased you are back with your mate. I was used as a mouthpiece for another power. Do not ask what power since I would only be able to tell you 'a higher power' and not much else. The visitor informed me that the constraints have been removed from me because the Darkness is back." He had to close his eyes for a moment and accept some power from his mate.

As he was doing that everyone in the room who knew about the Darkness gasped in shock and horror. The most senior Kitsunes knew since they were the front line in ensuring it didn't gain more than a toe hold anywhere in their territory. Dan was more than confused but let it go for the moment. Considering how used Amaratsue was looking Dan lowered his head. *Mistress if you can hear me I request that you return Red and Amaratuse's tails. Something major has them worked up by the name of the Darkness.*

For a very brief moment stillness fell upon the room as a beam of moonlight shown down. When it faded away the Moon Goddess was there. She immediately moved over to Amaratsue and wrapped an arm around him. *Your tail is back and all is forgiven. What is this about the Darkness being back? I know I have felt some stirring but nothing to indicate that.* She rarely ever spoke using her voice.

Amaratsue twitched and smiled. *Thank you Luna. I will explain in a moment.* He sat up and Luna moved off to one side.

When she glanced around she had to smile at her wolves. "You do me great honor my children. You have taken what my Alpha wolf has tried to teach you and have grown. I am pleased and keep showing my other children there is a right way to be a pack."

"I don't have a great deal of time since the Avatar for the Darkness will start recovering from his current state soon. Even with the constraints gone I must hoard my powers to my chest like a niggardly miser. We cannot allow this change to be discovered till it is the right time. As of now my children will be used to communicate with me. The other clan spirit lords will be assigning envoy's to the Leaders of the Clans and Leader Xipil. I will give you further updates once I have recovered. The mates of the spirit lords are going to clean the palace for you of all evil. Keep your eyes open though because evil can find a way if a chance is given." Amaratsue nodded to all and traded looks with Luna and she nodded at him. He vanished from the throne room as did all the other male spirits.

As Amaratsue was speaking Red felt his tail being returned as well and he couldn't help but reach around and pull all of them forward. He cuddled them in his arms as if they were his precious children and stroked the one that had been removed. *Poor baby I will make sure to give you a really good grooming tonight.*