A Thousand Shades Of Black

Chapter 12 – Furya

Riddick toggled the engines down and slid into orbit around the half-wrecked world of Furya. Because the last Lord Marshall had made his fight with the Furyan people a private war, it hadn’t received the same treatment as many other worlds. The gravity bombs hadn’t been dropped and only the cities and towns had been ravaged. The population was dead or dispersed, but the planet was in fairly good shape for a Necromonger conquest.

“He didn’t finish the Cleansing,” Vaako grumbled with a discontented frown.

“Um, Vaako, that’s a good thing remember?” Kyra teased him and the ex-Necro flushed in embarrassment. Riddick ignored the other man’s comment. After all, he’d been a convert for longer than he’d been free of them and it would take time for some of his entrenched ideas to get cleared out.

“Just don’t say things like that where any other Furyans might hear you; they won’t be as understanding as we are.” Sturm’s gentle rebuke elicited a nod from Vaako and Riddick wished they had time for one more session in the bedroom before they went down to the planet.

She turned an arched eyebrow at Riddick and he had the distinct impression that she was equally disappointed but also amused by his one-track mind.

“The ‘porter is charged and ready,” Kyra reminded him, obviously eager to get down to the surface and look around.

“There are backpacks for each of you by the transporter. There is survival equipment and rations in there to last a week. If we get separated, return to the landing spot and await pickup. Is that clear?” Riddick glared at Kyra especially but the stern look encompassed the whole motley crew and they all nodded. It was much like being back in the military, he thought wryly, or maybe running a kindergarten.

Kyra looked around at the blasted city with interest. It had once been a largish place with striking architecture, all wood, stone and glass. The buildings were interwoven through the trees and hills in a way that complimented the landscape and disturbed it very little. The Furyans had built homes and shops that curved around established trees rather than cutting them down to make room. The ground underfoot was springy and soft. The streets were cobbled along the edges but set with soft moss in the middle.

Breezes stirred the trees and floral scents wafted down to them from the large white blossoms that decorated the branches above them. There was a natural beauty to the landscape that had been subtly enhanced by the once carefully cultivated gardens, now trampled underfoot, and the remains of civic landscaping that must have been truly lovely at some point. It all resonated with a love of nature and a sensitivity that sat oddly with everything Kyra knew about Furyans.

“It’s beautiful,” Kyra breathed out as she turned and took in the half-destroyed town. She could see the warrior mentality in the heavy walls and doors of the buildings, but the trees and flowers softened it and she felt a stab of rage at the destruction.

“It is.” Vaako was turning as well, his face troubled. It must be hard sometimes for him, to look at the worlds his people had destroyed. That he’d been brainwashed by the Necromongers, as they had tried to do to Kyra, was obvious. Whether he would ever really forgive himself for how easily and deeply he had thrown himself in to the religion was still uncertain. He took things far too seriously as far as Kyra was concerned.

He was rapidly becoming another big brother to her, though she thought occasionally that he looked at her with something more than a brotherly awareness. Still, he was just a little too earnest for her to have any real interest in. He was cute though. She wanted to marry a guy like Riddick someday and Vaako lacked the killer instinct that Kyra found so appealing.

A low growling diverted her attention and a lithe shape leapt from one of the trees. Kyra took the impact and rolled backwards, flinging her attacker off of her and coming to her feet, knife out in one smooth motion. The blurred figure resolved into a barefoot young man, golden skinned, black haired, with ebony eyes and dressed in ragged trousers and a shirt. He had an expression of dark fury on his face. He was also quite the most beautiful man Kyra had ever seen before.

He lunged at her again, a blade in his hand flicking out and she dodged him, bringing her own blade down to leave a long cut on his arm as she passed. He pivoted on his heel to come at her again and suddenly Riddick had an arm around the young man’s throat and was growling menacingly in his ear.

“You got a problem kid?” That he hadn’t already killed the boy said something. Kyra admired his immense restraint.

“Necromonger scum! I’ll kill you all!” The wild tone and frantic struggles were doing nothing to endear him to Riddick and Kyra shook her head in exasperation. His arm was bleeding freely but he seemed oblivious.

“Brave words, but unwise. We aren’t Necros.” Riddick was being really patient for him.

“I’m not stupid! I can see the marks on her neck!” he sputtered back angrily, his dark eyes flashing.

Kyra fingered the scars and sighed. That was something she hadn’t thought of. All of the ex-Necros bore the scars of the Purification and would all the days of their lives.

“She is the Alpha’s pack sister and our female beta.” Sturm glided up to where the boy could see her and he froze in surprise looking at the obviously Furyan woman before him. Kyra wondered what a beta was but figured she could get the full download later.

“Who are you?” He had ceased his frenzied struggles and was eyeing Sturm in confusion.

“We are the Riddick Pack,” she replied and all the color drained from the boy’s face. Kyra grinned at his expression; it looked like her big bro’s rep had reached even here. “The man holding you is Riddick.” Sheer terror overcame his face for a moment and then he got himself under control again. Kyra was impressed; she’d expected him to shit himself.

“I submit to the Alpha,” he gasped out and Riddick dropped him.

“What’s your name?” The gravelly tone was even and Kyra wasn’t sure what impressed her more right now, the boy’s ballsy courage or Riddick’s restraint and patience. Each was equally surprising to her.

“Jeran Daniel Faille, I am lone,” he answered shakily, his head down and eyes on the ground.

Well, Jeran, I am Riddick and while these people used to be Necros, they turned away from that path to follow me. Now they are mine.” Riddick sounded resigned about the whole thing, as though he was still not entirely pleased and Jeran looked up at him in surprise.

“It’s impossible to escape from the Necro conditioning,” he stated flatly.

“The girl you attacked fought for me even after she was turned; died for me rather than submit to them.” The absurdly pretty face with its high cheekbones and long black lashes turned to look at her in puzzlement and Kyra shot him a wry grin.

“We got her back,” Sturm explained and Jeran looked at her in awe.

“Void Walker,” he murmured. “An Alpha and Void Walker pairing.” He was looking back and forth between Riddick and Sturm in shock and wonderment.

“What about it?” Riddick growled menacingly.

“No offense, Alpha, it is just so very rare.” The boy’s eyes were flicking over them all rapidly as he thought.

“My parents were an Alpha and a Void Walker,” Sturm told the young man with an eyebrow raised in interest.

“You are of the Sturm line?” His eyebrows were raised and he was looking up at her curiously.

“Alia Otoran Sturm,” she introduced herself and the boy nodded.

“We are cousins.” His words caused her to lean forward and study him.

“Interesting,” Riddick murmured, his head tilted to one side to study the dark-haired boy. “There are others here?”

“Yes, Alpha, we have small groups in the forest. More of us return home all the time.” He sounded pleased by that fact and Alia nodded. This world called to their kind; of course they would return.

“Riddick.” Running an irritated hand across his shaved head, Riddick eyed the young man and sighed. Kyra grinned at his weary tone.
“What?” The boy looked baffled.

“Stop calling me Alpha. It’s Riddick, okay kid?” It was a losing battle to be called by his name rather than some silly title yet he was still fighting it.

“Yes, A-Riddick.” The boy was at least obedient. Kyra found herself watching his slender fingers and the way the sun caught at his hair in sparks of silver. He was really quite stunning.

“Vaako, fall in as rear guard; Freet, Joisa in the middle, Daikken, Auret on either side.” They all complied and Kyra waited for him to tell her what to do and wondered why she was behaving so docilely. It was weird, she wasn’t normally so quick to seek anyone’s direction but her own. Maybe it had something to do with being on an alien planet and looking like an enemy to the entire population. Yeah, that could be it.
“Kyra, you stay between Alia and myself. Jeran, lead the way.” Kyra thought about yanking Riddick’s chain and then decided that it wasn’t the time.

The slim young man took off at a jog and they all followed after him into the forest.

A cousin, Alia thought with some surprise. She had never really considered that she might find family here. Not that it really mattered; she had Riddick and the pack and all else was superfluous.

They loped along in the boy’s wake and she grinned as the humans behind them became winded long before she or Riddick began to tire.
“Jeran, we will have to slow a bit for them,” Riddick commented dryly and the young Furyan looked back at them in surprise.

“Oh, right, I forgot.” The boy blurted out and the pace slowed. Sturm was amused by the look of relief on Kyra’s face. “I apologize to the pack,” Jeran added with a chagrined look.

“The pack forgives.” Alia prompted Riddick mentally with the correct response and he spoke with a wry humor as he swept his eyes over the panting group behind him. “The pack needs to toughen up, though.” There was a teasing light in his eyes as he spoke and Kyra stuck out a tongue at him.

“The pack can toughen up all it likes but we’ll never match you two,” she answered back with asperity but also with an underlying affection and pride. Alia regarded her thoughtfully and nodded at the girl. It was true and she would have to keep the pack’s limitations in mind if they ever had to fight together.

“Still, you do well,” Alia admitted and received weary smiles from the others. It hadn’t been intended as a compliment, she was merely stating a truth but they seemed pleased by the praise and she let it pass. After all, they were doing well.

They continued on at a reduced pace, a mere leisurely stroll for the three Furyans but still a brisk tempo for the others. The forest, which had been sparse around the town, began to thicken and the trees began to grow to impossible heights. Birdsong twittered and screeched through the air, the breezes swayed branches and tossed leaves and there was a singing beauty in the place that soothed her soul.

“It’s so beautiful,” Kyra murmured. “I’m surprised more people don’t know about this world.” She was looking around her like a tourist and Alia smiled.

“Furyans like their privacy,” Alia replied in a mild tone and Kyra chuckled at the incredible understatement. Alia failed to mention the rapacious wildlife which was smart enough to stay away from a pack of Furyans but would find a small group of pure-strain humans to be a tasty snack.
“No, really? Never would have known that one.” Riddick bared teeth at Kyra, knowing full well what target that arrow had been aimed at. She just grinned back at him.
Jeran was watching the byplay with curiosity and a kind of wistful hunger. Alia observed how his eyes lingered on Kyra with both wariness and interest. Despite Riddick’s assurances, he was suspicious of the ex-Necros but also, Alia saw, envious of the easy friendship and camaraderie the pack enjoyed.
She turned her attention to the others, wondering what they all looked like to outside eyes. She had grown so used to them that it was sometimes an effort to remember that they were a very odd group.
“You simply have no appreciation of proper hair care.” Auret was saying to Joisa. The two Necromonger women were teasing him for growing his hair out long. The small rebellion against the doctrines of his previous faith was, as far as Alia was concerned, a good thing, but the two women couldn’t resist the target he presented. At the moment, it barely covered his ears but it was certainly longer than the nearly shaved heads of Vaako and Daikken.
“So Blondie, that hair of yours – how long will you let it grow?” Kyra dropped back to join in the teasing. Auret was constructed along more modest lines than the other two Necros – who were built like walls – though even Vaako’s muscular form was less impressive than Daikken’s. He was roughly square and a very big square at that.
“I thought I would let it get as long as yours.” He answered with a grin and the girls all laughed. The women were like three flowers: one blonde, one redhead and Kyra’s dark brunette; they at least made a pretty picture. Alia sighed. She had never had an ambition to look soft and feminine but it could be useful if they ran into any males that needed… persuading. In the back of her mind, she could hear Riddick growling his displeasure at that thought.
“Vain, that’s what you are.” Kyra teased. “You’ll want to wear jewelry and feathers soon,” she added and this time the men joined in the laughter as well. Watching from outside for a moment it was obvious that this disparate group really was a pack; the bonds and the loyalty were there, plain to see.
“No, I don’t think I will go that far,” Auret chuckled quietly along with the others. “I am beautiful enough without adornment,” he added in mock pomposity and struck a pose.

“Oh, please!” Vaako retorted. “Everyone knows I am the best looking of this sorry lot.” The teasing and laughter continued in that vein for sometime and Alia turned her attention back to the forest around her. The warm glow of affection that bound them buoyed her up and she found that she was walking with a spring in her step. It was good to not be alone. A flare of Riddick’s fiercely affectionate agreement ran through her and she sent a rush of her own caring back towards him in reply.

They were moving through dense underbrush and now Alia could feel a strange trembling in the air. Her head kept turning to catch some elusive feeling that hovered on the edge of her consciousness. It was familiar and yet…

It struck her finally and she wanted to run even faster as she felt the first icy touches of dread on her heart. It was the gates. She wasn’t sure how she knew but she did. All around them, all across this world, the gates were slowly opening, the wards were failing and she could feel it like someone whispering in the back of her mind.

Somewhere out there in the woods, there were things moving, coming through from other universes. She really hoped that their arrival wasn’t too late.

Riddick scented the others before he saw them. The clearing they entered had tents and lean-tos erected. There was a fire pit in the center and children were running barefoot through the grass. Men and women, all with the slightly golden-hued skin of himself and Alia were scattered about and heads turned to track them as they entered. Hair, he noted varied between the ebony black of Alia’s through shades of brown and deep auburn, to blonde like the Purifier’s had been. The eyes, though, were uniformly dark and as they all came to focus on him it was like being stared at by the pinpricks of negative stars.

His group halted nervously behind him, not quite huddling but certainly making sure that Riddick and Alia were in front. The Furyans rose from whatever tasks they were doing and all focused on the newcomers. The children slid away into tents or behind parents, moving quickly and silently without any adult needing to speak. It was a bit eerie.

“Jeran, who have you brought?” A tall man stepped out of the pack and crossed his arms to stare at Riddick. He was big – not quite as big as Riddick himself, but the way he stood showed him to be a fighter and he obviously had enough muscle to back his aggressive stance. He had dark red hair trimmed very short but with the same tiny braids that Alia wore. Riddick doubted that he used jackers to hold them in place though.

He also had eyes the same silver as Riddick's own. A shine job? Riddick was confused as what felt like two separate memories tried to overlap for an instant. Then he merely ignored it.

“The Riddick pack,” Jeran replied and a susurrus of whispering flowed around the glade. The big man glared at the boy and gave Riddick a challenging stare before he swept the others with a glance.

“We see that there are Necromongers among you.” His tone was anything but friendly.

“There are no more Necros; I sent them all into the UnderVerse,” Riddick replied with a frown at the stranger.

“They bear the marks,” he retorted and the other Furyans began to drift forward menacingly.

“They are mine now.” The low growl that came out of his throat surprised even him but the way the other Furyans were eyeing Kyra, Vaako and the others was rousing some primal instinct in him. If he had to fight the whole lot of them he would, but they wouldn’t be touching his people.

“Enough!” Alia’s voice cut through them all and she moved forward, trailing shadows to stand between the strange man and Riddick. It was an impressive display of her Void Walker talents, the way tendrils of darkness flowed around her, and the other Furyans edged back away from her. “He is Alpha and he says they are pack. If you dispute it, challenge him and be done with it. If not, back down and name yourself,” she growled at the redhead who hesitated and then stepped back. Riddick kept himself from grinning at the man’s obvious reluctance to go blade to blade with him.

“I am Daniel David Faille,” he replied to Alia in a voice that was less hostile but still suspicious. “I am Alpha of the Faille Pack.” Riddick gave Jeran an enquiring look; the boy was obviously related to Daniel, but Jeran had introduced himself as ‘lone’. What did that mean?

“I see you, Alpha Faille.” Riddick could feel the words creeping into his mind from Alia beside him. It was a little creepy but ever so useful.

“I see you, Alpha Riddick.” Daniel gestured him forward and Riddick stepped after him towards the fire. Alia had gotten rid of the Void tendrils and paced a half step behind him. Kyra had once asked if Alia was being subordinate when she walked behind him – in other words, if Furyans were sexist. Alia was no one’s subordinate, Riddick had laughed in reply; it was in fact the exact opposite. Furyans trusted only the most loyal and deadly to watch their back.

They sat around the fire with the other Furyans and an uncomfortable silence began to stretch.

“So, are we all just going to stare at each other?” Kyra finally asked with a tone of exasperation. “Because we didn’t come all this way for the scenery.”

“Your beta has a smart mouth,” Faille muttered with a glare at Kyra, who looked about ready to jump on the other man and tear his throat out. Sometimes Kyra’s tendency to knife first and ask questions later wasn’t as good a survival tactic as it might seem. Faille’s muscles rippled under his skin and he moved well. Riddick would have to put some genuine effort into taking the other man down. He could do it but it wouldn’t be easy or clean. Kyra… well, Faille would mop the floor with her.

“She’s right, though. We didn’t come here for the scenery,” Riddick retorted and watched as Alia waved Kyra back and down with a stern gesture. Not that it would last. For all her improvement, Kyra was still pretty damn angry at the world.

“What did you come for?” Faille growled. Riddick wondered how Furyan society ever survived if Alphas tended to come to blows every time they met another Alpha. It wasn’t a trait that made for racial survival. Looking around the glade at the remnants of his people, it became clear why the Necros had been able to kill so many of them off. Furyans didn’t play well with others, not even other Furyans.

“We came because the gates are opening, the wards are failing and other verses are intruding on this one,” Riddick replied with a touch of asperity. There was a low murmuring and the other Furyans, who had been keeping their distance, began to creep closer.

“Nonsense, Shirah keeps the gates and they are secure,” Faille waved off Riddick’s words airily.

“You’re wrong,” Alia retorted flatly and Faille’s eyes flashed in fury.

“You dare!” Faille shrieked and then he erupted off of the chair and lunged at Alia. Riddick wasn’t even conscious of his own actions until he had grabbed the other man by the throat and began squeezing.

“Never threaten what’s mine,” Riddick hissed. Faille was purpling and Riddick had to force himself to release him. The urge to kill was so strong in him; the need to protect both mate and family burned both fierce and irrational. Faille dropped to the ground choking and gasping.

“You’re wrong,” Alia repeated perfectly calmly, as though the attack had never happened. “I can feel the gates and they are falling open all around us.”

Dead weighty silence greeted her words and the other Furyans had turned with those laser eyes to stare at Alia. Despite what he had just done to their Alpha, Riddick felt no hostility from them, they were more just idly curious. Riddick could feel an essential wrongness in that. Vaako and the others would have been on Faille in an instant, were the positions reversed; why didn’t these people feel any loyalty to their Alpha?

“You can feel them?” It was an old voice but still vigorous and the pack fell away to form a path through which an elderly Furyan woman came forward. Her hair was pure white, her face lined and her once black eyes were filmed over and gray. She wore a simple linen shift with beads and embroidery stitched in swirling patterns across it.

There was something familiar about her, about her voice. It took him a moment and then he understood.

“Shirah,” he whispered in surprise.