For A Season

AN A LITTLE NOTHING /COONAVERSE CROSSOVER 

Legal Notice: This story is Copyright © 2007-2009 by Tigermark. This story may not be sold or used for commercial profit in any way, shape, form or fashion. This story may not be modified in any way. This story may not be posted on a mirror site or any other Internet site without the written permission of the author. This story may not be distributed on print, magnetic, electrical or optical mediums or any other mediums yet to be discovered. Characters are not to be used without obtaining author’s permission. This story is a fan fiction of Joe Martelle’s Open Season, and Chuck Percy’s Change of Season, and every attempt is made for it, with the authors’ permission, to be canon to those stories and the Coonaverse. 

Rick Coona, Kelso (Kel) Amanda Vixxen Ujinkhan, Max Badger, Kath Badger, Kacy Kelso Coona, Richard Randolph Coona, Gwen Smith (Harcort-Smythe) Coona, Jo-Ann Procyon, Dr. Charles Procyon, Straga Nona, Mike Ferretti, and Flit the Air Elemental are Copyright Joe Martelle. 

Kassir Ujinkhan, Lynne Smyth, Marie Cassini, Richard Kassir Charles Procyon and Kelso Gwenwyfar Procyon  © Chuck Percy 

Tigermark M’Rega © his player. Tammy Lynx (TL), Rachel, and Brianna M’Rega © Tigermark. Aslaug Larsdater and Aramis Dagaz © their players. Joe Latrans © Silver Coyote. Tani the kitsuné angel, The Amigos, and the Scruffy Squad © the ALN writing team. 

All other characters not credited here were created for this story and are © Tigermark 

Any resemblance to persons furry, non furry living, dead or undead is purely coincidental.

Chapter 11  

Strange

Dale led the other four out of the office and into the maze of crates in the main warehouse. Slowly and carefully they worked their way in between two large crates where a small, shadowed space was left. Dale was about to peek out when he heard a loud shout. He didn’t recognize the voice, but he felt the two lion cubs with them give a start and involuntarily shrink back. He did the same, getting well back in the shadows. An older male lion strode quickly past where he’d just been, and Dale released a silent breath of gratitude for the shout he’d heard. He moved forward again and chanced a peek out into the aisle. What he saw made him pause a second. At the far end of the aisle, a fight seemed to be in the making. The lion who’d passed was down there, confronting a white tiger dressed all in black. A lady skunk, also dressed in black, was backing away from a big rottweiler with a two-by-four in his paws.

Dale glanced the other way to make sure the coast was clear and motioned for the other children to follow him.

“C’mon, while they’re busy.”

The others moved quickly behind him, but they’d barely got into the aisle when they heard the lady skunk scream something like, “Stop or I’ll fry you!” That seemed odd, but they didn’t want to stop. Dale glanced down that way, but what he saw didn’t make any sense. The lion had turned toward them, but instead of shouting or running after them, he had raised a paw as though reaching for them. The tiger was swinging what looked like a gun off his back. Wherever the lady skunk was, Dale couldn’t see her for the rottweiler who had the board raised above his head as if to strike downward.

Dale tried to pick up the pace, but all of a sudden it felt like he was trying to run in molasses. Then it seemed like they were all being pulled toward the lion.

And then, things got really strange.

# # #

Jo-Ann fidgeted a bit in her seat. Her partner and several others from the narcotics unit were in unmarked cars, along with several regular units, ostensibly to raid a warehouse where a tip said they’d find, “something very interesting.” The raccoon hadn’t told anyone that the tipster was just her setting off her cell phone and faking a conversation. Right now though, she really was waiting for her cell phone to ring. She had no idea where Flit had led Lynne and Tigermark, but Gwen said Lynne would call when the demon was neutralized and the kits were safe. For her part, Jo-Ann didn’t care for being relegated to clean-up duty, but she also knew from her own visions that this demon was not to be taken lightly.

“Hey Jo-Jo, when’s this snitch of yours gonna call with the location? We can’t sit out here all day.”

Jo-Ann winced. The voice was from one of the narco squad detectives. One she didn’t much care for, and who she, despite every effort, could not dissuade from calling her “Jo-Jo.” She turned and fixed him with a cool stare. After a moment, he turned his gaze away.

“Geez, okay, okay. I know, these things happen when they happen. Did the snitch even say what was supposed to be at this place? Heroin? Cocaine? Pot?”

Jo-Ann held her gaze on him. “Tucker, it could be Granny Bin’s bourbon balls for all that was said. He only said we’d find something interesting. Now pipe down so I can hear my phone when it rings.”

The mixed-breed canid knew that Jo-Ann could probably hear her cell phone ring over a Force Four gale, but this time he took the hint and remained silent. For her part, Jo-Ann was starting to worry a bit. She hadn’t been too keen on letting Lynne and Tigermark go in first and secure the demon, preferring to follow Flit to the missing kits and get them to safety while the paladin dealt with the demon.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the radio crackled to life.

“Dispatch to all units, be on the lookout for a silver New Yorker, Washington plates as follows.”

Jo-Ann’s ears perked up and her tail fidgeted in the seat. Something told her to pay close attention to this call. She copied down the license number and listened to the next part of the alert.

“Car belongs to a Mr. Arlo Rexonis. His wife called in that he left for work and to take their children to school. The cubs have not arrived at their school, and Mr. Rexonis has not arrived at his office yet.”

After giving a physical description of the lion and cubs the alert concluded. “If spotted, make contact and determine status.”

“Huh,” Jo-Ann’s partner mused. “Usually don’t alert for late cubs this soon.”

“Probably just being very cautious. With those kits missing, everyone’s a bit more on edge.” Jo-Ann replied with a growing sense of urgency. She had a “hunch” that the missing lions were involved with whatever Tigermark and Lynne were facing.

For what seemed like the hundredth time, she put a paw on her phone, willing it to ring.

# # #

Specaurious grinned evilly. The pending fight with the agent had managed to flush the kits from hiding. He’d walked right by them, causing him to wonder if he might be slipping. He passed it off as being confined in Arlo’s body. He reached out and began to pull the young ones toward him. Inside Arlo was screaming for all he had, but the demon merely ignored him.

And nearly forgot about the threat he’d turned his back to. He heard a scream and a distinct sound that made Arlo cringe and cease screaming for a moment. Without loosing his pull on the children, Specaurious turned his head and found the agent bringing a shotgun to bear on him.

“Oh come now, you know better than that,” the demon stated in Arlo’s voice. “All you’ll do is damage this body. While I have no concerns about damaging you!”

Specaurious raised his other paw and made a flicking motion. Tigermark was flung backward into a stack of crates, crashing into them and causing the whole mess to fall.

“Well, that was easy,” the demon mused as he turned back toward the children. But then, things began to get strange.

# # #

Lynne backed slowly away from the rottweiler, who was advancing in a stiff, robotic way, raising the board in his paws to strike at her. She felt she should at least warn him so she screamed at him to stop or she’d fry him. She almost giggled at how absurd that probably sounded. The canid didn’t stop or react, so she set herself for a tazer shot. She gathered the energy and released it the way the Guardian had shown her, and the rotty went stiff. As soon as the energy dissipated, though, the canid unexpectedly continued to move toward her. He was about to strike when she let go another, more powerful charge.

The rottweiler’s fur stood on end and began to smoke. As soon as the charge was over, he fell to the floor and didn’t move again. Lynne breathed deeply, trying to control her emotions. The Guardian had been in control the night before, and she’d felt like she was more a spectator than a participant in the grizzly’s demise. This one had been all her. She felt like retching, because as she breathed in, all she could smell was burnt fur and flesh.

Then she saw Tigermark suddenly go flying past. He crashed into the stack of crates just off to the side, and the resulting avalanche of crates buried him. She wanted to scream at the fur who’d just caused that and run to the tiger all at once. The lion turned back toward the children as though she wasn’t there. They were, oddly, being dragged toward him.

Then something really strange happened. What looked like a swirling wall of air formed between the lion and the children, and they suddenly took off like they were shot from a catapult. The lion seemed to be startled, though Lynne couldn’t see his face. He reached out toward them again, and then gave an angry roar when there was no effect. He shot fire from his paws at the wall of air. The barrier vibrated with the hit and seemed to shatter. Then crates and boxes from both sides fell and blocked the aisle. The lion again roared in frustration, but Lynne was now royally pissed!

“You worthless piece of CRAP! Why don’t you quit picking on kits and try a grownup for a change!”

The lion turned quickly and regarded her down his muzzle. Then his features distorted in a very bizarre and evil-looking way.

“Why, hello little lightning bug. I’d nearly forgotten about you. You mean like the agent with you? You saw how easily he was dealt with, but I suppose I should do something about you before I go after the little ones. Now hold still, and this will only be excruciating.”

The demon raised his paws toward her, but before anything could happen the pile of crates to her left where Tigermark had gone down exploded outward. Lynne and the demon both fell to the floor as crates and pieces of crates flew in all directions. Lynne looked up to see Tigermark standing in the center of where the crates had collapsed, but his appearance had changed. His fur stood on end, and his eyes were glowing blanks of brilliant green. Green fire danced along his tail and shoulders and down his arms to his paws. He spoke, and the voice that came out sounded like many voices together.

“Demon, you think me gone so easily? You think the agents of God are so quickly defeated? Surrender and be returned to your realm, or suffer the consequences!”

The voice of Specaurious answered, sounding a bit hollow coming from the lion’s mouth.

“Oh why does your kind always sound so pompous? How about this? NO!”

The demon spun on his heel and made a dash for the pile of crates in the middle of the aisle, planning on leaping over them and escaping. Things had gone quickly against him, for he recognized the divine power the agent wielded from their last meeting. All he had to do was get out of the agent’s sight and flee Arlo’s body. He could then hole up and await another fool to become his pawn and another chance to take this world.

He got exactly two steps when lightning flashed and Arlo’s body went stiff. The arc of electrical power continued, holding him fast. Both he and Arlo heard the voice of the femme skunk clearly.

“Oh, I think this ‘lightning bug’ might have something to say about this, too. After all you’ve put us through, you are not going anywhere! TM, I think you have something you need to do.”

Tigermark nodded, a smile on his muzzle when Lynne glanced over at him. She had to concentrate really hard to keep the tazer effect going. Then she saw him fire a stream of green flame toward the lion. An unearthly scream sounded, and she released her hold. The lion fell to the floor, and she turned to TM.

He was standing in the same spot, but the green fire was gone. His eyes were still aglow, and he held a glowing green orb in his paw. When he spoke, it was in his normal voice.

“Call Jo-Ann. She and her fellow officers can clean up the rest. The kits and cubs will be safe until they come in, either in here or out front.”

“What about the ones guarding the doors?” Lynne was looking concerned.

“Lynne, those children almost took out the whole lot before we got here. Who do you think is in more danger now that we have the demon captured? Besides, I think now might be the time to bring the lights down. It’ll cover both the kits and our escape. Do it just before we get to the door.”

She grinned. “Point taken. Okay let’s head for an exit while I talk.”

As the skunkette pulled out her cell phone, they walked toward the opposite side of the building.

# # #

“Dale, what happened back there? Why couldn’t we move?” Junior asked as they carefully threaded their way toward the side doors.

“Hey, he’s your dad, you tell me. That was nothing like I’d ever seen. I didn’t look back to see what happened when whatever it was let go.” Dale peeked around the corner and pulled quickly back. There was a large fur guarding the door, but he was more concerned about picking fish hooks out of his fur at the moment.

“We can’t go that way, the door’s guarded.”

Janie answered that statement in a whimper. “W-what do we do if they’re all guarded?”

Before Dale could answer, Junior put a paw on his shoulder. Dale looked at him, and saw both fear and determination.

“I’m going to go tell the guard that my father wants him back in the briefing room. They don’t know what my father tried to do to us. Besides, I need to do my part. I…was wrong. All my father ever taught me about hybrids and other species was wrong. You came back and saved us, even when you could’ve been long gone. I have to do something to thank you for that.”

Dale started to say something, but the lion cub was gone before he could. They waited to see what would happen as Junior approached the guard.

“Hey mister! My father wants you, ah, back where the briefing was. I think he said something about the sacrifices escaping.”

The fur nearly jumped out of his hide as he spun around. He looked down at the lion cub for a moment, an uncertain expression on his face.

“Dammit kid you nearly startled me out of my wits! Oh, you’re Arlo’s cub. Okay then, watch the door and I’ll be back as soon as I see what he wants. Don’t let anyone in or out, got it?”

“Sure thing.”

The fur left at a quick walk heading down toward the office area. As soon as he turned the corner, Junior motioned the others to join him. They moved quickly and just as they all arrived there the lights went out. Dale didn’t wait to find out why, he just opened the door. In a second they were all out on the sidewalk, but didn’t immediately see anywhere inviting to go.

“Let’s go toward the front. There seemed to be more traffic on that street when my father drove us here.”

Dale nodded his agreement with Junior’s statement, and they all headed that way.

# # #

The dachshund was tired of looking out the front of the building at nothing. He wanted a cup of coffee, and to see what was going on inside. All kinds of weird noises had been coming from the warehouse. Finally he decided to just go in and see. He went into the office area and found a half a pot of coffee on the warmer. He’d just poured a cup when all the lights went out.

“Crap! Now what?” he cursed as he felt along and stumbled upon a flashlight. He’d just clicked it on when one of his fellow Brethren came in the door.

“Joey! What happened to the lights?” the dachshund asked.

“I don’t know. Arlo’s cub came up to me back at the door and said he wanted me back in the briefing room. You know anything about the sacrifices escaping?”

“Nah, but with th’ lights out, we better go check on ‘em.”

Together the pair made their way down to the room the sacrifices were kept in. The door was bolted, but the dachshund opened it and they peered in. A large form was laid out on the floor.

“Jacko! Whut th’ hell?” the dachshund exclaimed, and then swung the flashlight all around.

“Hey! They’re gone! The door was bolted, they must’ve gone out the vent! C’mon Joey, mebbe we can find them!”

The two went to the air vent, and the dachshund opened it. Both furs peered in just as they heard a loud “twang!”

# # #

Jo-Ann nearly jumped out of her seat when her cell phone rang. She snatched it up and answered immediately. She listened briefly and then replied.

“Okay, on our way.”

She turned to the others in the car and rattled off an address only a couple of blocks away. Three cars of narco squad officers plus several more regular units all took off. Those who frequented the area barely even took notice, except to be glad it wasn’t them on the receiving end of a raid. They were just rolling up on the address when Jo-Ann gave a shout on the radio.

“Stay sharp everyone! There’s a silver New Yorker in the parking lot here that matches the description of the one with the missing cubs!

Over on the side of the building, the group of young furs were just at the last door before they reached the front. They all just about screamed and ran in fear when that door opened. Instead of one of the Brethren, though, a lady skunk dressed all in black stepped out. Seeing them, she stopped and crouched down to be on their level.

“Uh, hi. Are you the ones who’ve been missing?”

They were still uncertain, but then Dale recognized her. “Hey, aren’t you the lady I saw about to fight the rottweiler?”

“Well, yeah, I guess I was,” she replied. Junior and Becca both spoke at once.

“What happened to our father? Is he alright now? Where is he?”

Lynne made a shushing motion. “Shhh, it’s okay. I don’t know if he’s alright or not. Something very bad and evil had ahold of him, and he did some very bad things, but I have the feeling he was fighting for you as much as he could. For right now though, the police are on their way. Go on out front and stand in the parking lot. They’ll get you home as soon as possible.”

Dale didn’t wait for any more urging. The group moved on quickly, with Bennie in the back. He turned and looked over his shoulder at Lynne.

“Okay thank you lady buh-bye!”

Lynne smiled warmly as the group rounded the end of the building and disappeared. She then motioned TM to come on. He had been right, the children had responded to her. He would have scared them half to death with his current appearance. They made their way quickly in the opposite direction, and she knew that TM had better have been right about her car, or they’d have a long walk home.

Back out front, Jo-Ann let out a sigh of relief. They’d just pulled in when a group of five young ones had rounded the corner and practically ran to them. They were chattering excitedly, all except the oldest. He stood there waiting his turn to tell his story. Jo-Ann stepped up and bent a little to look him in the eye.

“Hello, I’m Jo-Ann Procyon, Seattle P.D. What’s your name, young male?”

“Dale, Ma’am. Are we gonna be in any trouble? We set some traps in there, and they might have hurt some furs. We were just wanting to get their attention on something besides us so we could get away.”

Jo-Ann grinned at him. “I don’t think so. Ah, before we go in, do you know if they’re all sprung?”

Dale shrugged. “Don’t know, ma’am. We heard a lot of ‘em go, but I don’t know if they all went. You need to be careful.”

“Okay we will. Can you identify who took you?” Jo-Ann looked him earnestly in the eye.

“Well, the only one I ever saw was a boxer, but I haven’t seen him today. There was a lion, and the two cubs said their dad brought them in. I saw him, but you wouldn’t believe me if I told you what he was doing.” Dale gave a shrug to conclude his statement.

“Okay then. You go with the officers, and they’ll get you back to your parents.”

“Thanks, ma’am. Uh, be real careful in there, okay? That lion was doing some weird stuff when I saw him.” Dale’s concern was evident, and it touched Jo-Ann. She briefly hugged him and then stood up.

“You bet. Thanks.”

Jo-Ann then led the group of policefurs entering the building. Now that the children were safe, there was less concern for going slow and easy. They’d had a SRT team on call, and those furs now came in, dressed in body armor and carrying assault rifles. They swept along, going room to room. They found a room with a groggy akita flex-cuffed to a chain, and two unconscious furs up against pipes near an open air vent. Jo-Ann was certain that it was the torture room from her visions, but a forensics team would determine if any blood was present.

The SRT furs made an end sweep and picked up several furs near the doors. All showed signs of some of the children’s traps. Jo-Ann nearly doubled over laughing at the fur in red paint. Then came the call of the discovery of a body near the back of the warehouse. She heard the description, and breathed a sigh of relief. It didn’t sound like the fur died from any of the children’s traps.

Jo-Ann was leading a team working their way around a large pile of crates and boxes that had fallen into the aisleway, blocking it. She saw two furs on the floor as they cleared the pile. One, a rottweiler, was still smoking and putting off a terrible stench. The other, a large male lion who looked to be in his forties, was curled up in a fetal position. He too smelled of burnt fur, but it was hard to tell with the canid smoldering nearby. As she got close, she could see and hear that the lion was alive. What he was saying sent a chill up her spine, and cemented that he would likely be in a mental hospital the rest of his days.

“I’m Arlo again. The demon, the demon, he’s gone, but he’ll be back. I know he will. He’ll be back for me. I couldn’t save them. He’s coming to drag me to hell. I have to go for what I’ve done, and he’ll come for me. If not him, then the green angel will.”

Jo-Ann holstered her weapon and grabbed the lion’s arm. “Sure thing, pal. C’mon, let’s get you cuffed, and you can go have a nice long re-”   

She was cut short as she hauled the lion to his feet. A metallic clang sounded on the floor by their feet. She looked down and discovered a long-bladed knife, which had just fallen out of the lion’s suit coat. Looking inside of the coat, she found a sheath attached to the inner pocket that would accommodate the large weapon. She looked closer at the knife and noted dark stains on the blade and cross-guard that appeared to be blood. If the blood belonged to a certain little femme, they had an open-and-shut case. Only thing was, Arlo as he called himself would likely never stand trial. The rest of the survivors were looking at complicity to a list of charges so long they wouldn’t see daylight until they were all old and long of beard and tooth, if at all.

Jo-Ann pawed the still-babbling Arlo off to a uniformed officer and carefully bagged the dagger for evidence. Then she left it where it had fallen so the CSI folks could do their work. She then gave a relaxed sigh. The threat to Seattle’s children was back to normal, as was the threat to her family’s kits.

And out front, five children a demon had wanted tortured to death would be home with their mothers tonight.

# # #

That night at Casa Coona North, a very special circle was being set up. Gwen and Kass made sure every last detail that Straga Nona had given them was correctly done. Gwen was still fretting over Flit. The air elemental hadn’t returned yet. When it was time, Lynne and Tigermark joined them. Gwen and Kass still marveled at the energy Tigermark controlled. His eyes still glowed a brilliant emerald green. He still carried the sphere of energy, about the size of a softball, floating above his open palm.

Rick and Kel were watching over the kits, with Kel proclaiming it would be good practice for her for when hers arrived. Kass still got a bit wide-eyed when he was reminded about his impending fatherhood.

Everyone was in place and Kass and Gwen took the circle between the worlds. Almost immediately, the Guardians appeared to watch over the proceedings. Straga Nona then stepped into the circle to directly oversee the operation. She indicated where Tigermark was to place the sphere of energy.

“Right-a here in da middle, Mister Stripy. Den step-a back an’ let-a it expand-a.”

Tigermark did just that, and the sphere grew to about ten feet in diameter. They could now see the demon held within. He was sort of feline in appearance, though greatly distorted and misshapen. Rough, tattered, leathery wings adorned his back. He shook his fists at them and raged away. They could hear bits of his ranting, but not much.

“Atsa good. Now Miss-a Skunky, you say-a you part.”

Gwen did as Straga Nona instructed, intoning an incantation of banishment. Then she and Lynne added a last line together.

“Banished to hell, may you forever be gone. And lest you return, may your smell carry on!”

With that, both skunkettes turned and placed their musk glands directly on the energy globe. They sprayed with all they had, and in the sphere the demon could be seen gagging and screaming. When they were done they stepped back and TM stepped forward.

“And now, as it was done in the past, so now it is done again. In the name of God, I command you, back to Hell from whence you came!”

With that, the tiger closed his fist, and the sphere of energy shrank to a pinpoint and winked out. The Guardians pronounced, “It is finished.”

The sound of someone hitting the ground caught their attention. Tigermark was now sprawled face down. They all rushed to him, but Straga Nona just gave a laugh.

“Eh, he’s okey-doky. It takes a lot-a outta him to be da pipeline for dat power. You just let-a him rest-a, he be-a just fine soon.”

With a grin, Lynne replied, “I think we’re getting pretty good at that.”

Straga Nona just smiled and bade them all farewell before stepping out of the circle and disappearing into the swirling mists outside.

Just before they took the circle back to the mundane world, the dragon spoke again.

“Paladin, well done.”

Gwen replied, “I don’t think he can hear you.”

“Yes, she can,” was the dragon’s reply as Lynne blushed.

End of Chapter 11

 

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