Bonesnap

Elfric, Hanji, Haluk, and Sven go to Darkside, after Hanji receives an alarming message from Euclid. Ragnarok is at the blacksmith's, and plans to meet up with the guild after he finishes work for the day. At Euclid's, he explains why he urgently called for Hanji:

"I came up with some new experiment types, but a group of them managed to break out and are now running loose in Darkside. These are absolutely brand new, never-before-seen experiments. I don't know what effect they'd have on the ecosystem, and like hell if I'm going to get slapped again with a fine for escaped test subjects," Euclid explained, rubbing his hands on his forehead.
"So what do you want us to do then? Go find them and bring them back for you?" Sven grumbled.
"Well I didn't give you my sob story for nothing, did I?"
"The four of us, plus Ragnarok, would be capable I'm sure. How many subjects are we looking for?" Hanji ignored Sven's annoyed eyeroll.
"eight of them. But," Euclid hesitated.
"But, what?" Elfric pondered aloud.
"I must warn you. The eight are all the same kind of experiment. And they are incredibly dangerous," the scientist grimaced. He fiddled with the cigarette in his hand.
"Aren't all your experimentations technically dangerous?" Sven asked flatly. How dangerous could these test subjects be, when compared to the likes of the wild Mortiking that roamed Darkside already, he thought.
"These new ones are incredibly intelligent, sly and had the capability of breaking the locks on their cages. I'm going to have to put them in a steel room to keep them from getting out in the future," Euclid complained. "Now then, time is of the essence, get those beasts back here as soon as you can. I don't know where they went, but you have noses. Here's one of the broken locks, it has their scent on it."
Elfric and Sven stepped forward to smell the lock. It was acrid and abrasive to their noses.
"They aren't venomous, but their saliva can cause severe irritations. Whatever you do, avoid their mouths," the scientist stressed.
"Understood. May we take that with us?," Elfric asked. Euclid nodded. The wolf would pocket it in the saddlepack later.
"Anything else we should know about these creatures?" Hanji requested. Euclid considered.
"They're not likely to go with you easy, but please don't kill them. Just knock them unconscious. Ask Mathis to borrow a cart and hook it up to your Neela."

"Thanks, we'll be back hopefully soon." and with that, the guild members walked out. Outside, they wait for Ragnarok to finish his work. Mathis allows them to hook a cart up to Haluk. Ragnarok appears and sniffs the lock Elfric kept.

"EWWW!! It smells like death warmed over!" the pup yelped.
"No kidding. We have to track these stupid things down too." Sven was indignant about the affair. Not being allowed to kill their target sucked. It meant he had to hold back.
"Best to get a move on before it gets too late. Ragna, you lead, your nose is better than mine or Sven's," Elfric suggested, and it isn't long before Ragnarok has the scent down. They walk into the mountain ranges, not knowing what is ahead of them.

Ragnarok's intently focused, but Sven can't help but feel like the area they're in is familiar somehow. The Telenine pup stops suddenly, his ridge rising on his back.
"This is...my parents scent too. It's mixed in. My little brothers and sisters as well!" he exclaimed.
"That's why it's so familiar looking here. We're near your old home," Sven finally figured out.
"Elfric, you don't think these creatures did anything to my family do you??"
The older wolf sniffed all around. There wasn't a smell of blood, but that didn't sit well with him either way.
"I think we need to go and check on them regardless," Elfric decided, and with that, Ragnarok sprang ahead, running towards his family's cave. Elfric and Sven ran after him, and Hanji spurred on Haluk to canter. They soon arrive at the cave, but it's eerily quiet. No light shines from the cave entrance. The wolves fur on their backs stand on end. Haluk is alert, listening all around for any sign of danger. Hanji tightens her grip in his mane.

"I don't like this, commander. It's too quiet," Sven murmurs. The mixed smells of telenine and these strange beasts is even stronger now. Fresh blood is smeared on the ground in places. Right as Elfric is about to order a command, Ragnarok bolts for the cave.
"Come back, you idiot!!" Sven hollers and chases after the pup.
"Hanji, stay here with Haluk. Guard our backs!" and Elfric tore off after his soldier and lieutenant. Hanji looks around for any signs of movement, and then shouts, "Elfric, they're coming in at the sides!" She sees three of the beasts loping through the rocks, and it's too late. They ambush the three wolves. Hanji can't get Haluk to move forward. But she can see the three wolves are surrounded by these weird beasts. They have sloped backs, ridges of hair similar to that of mohawks, long legs and most notably, drooling open maws. The creatures are cackling, whooping with excitement as they run circles around the trapped wolves.

Ragnarok tries to break through their circling, and narrowly dodges being bitten. "OUT OF MY WAY YOU FILTHY CRETINS!" he bellows and charges further up the path to the cave. The three sloped beasts forget Sven and Elfric and storm after Ragnarok. They're incredibly fast, but Ragnarok's training has made him even faster. He comes to a halt at the cave entrance, standing tall and proud. Right as the beasts are about to tackle him, Elfric fires his Natasha from behind. The beasts scatter in fear, cackling and whooping.

The two catch up to Ragnarok and see what he sees: inside the cave, Ragnarok's parents and younger siblings are being kept coralled by four other beasts, much larger than the three that ran off. Laying across what was a couch, is the biggest of them all. She jumps down and saunters towards the three wolves. Her mouth is open wide in a grin. She looks behind her and hollers at one of the four guarding Ragna's family. The guild can see Ragnarok's father is bloodied and injured, but the rest of them appear fine.

"Well, well, well. Look at what the cat dragged in, hahaha," chuckled the largest beast. The other beast, slightly smaller but still huge, let out a light cackle as she joined the leader.
"Or should I say, wolves."
"Let my family go you hideous beasts!" Ragnarok screamed. His father's ears perked up, and his mother gasped. They hadn't seen their son in so long, and yet here he was.
"Hideous?? Boy, have you looked in the mirror, ha ha ha!"

Ragnarok snarled and tried to move forward, but the smaller beast tackled him and had him pinned down. She brought her face close to his neck, growling, saliva dripping from her murderous grin.
"Easy, Bones, let mother take care of this. I am Bloodbath and I am in charge of my family. I am a matriarch," the largest snarled as she stepped past to greet Elfric and Sven. Elfric lowered his Natasha, but Sven kept his gutting blade ready in his mouth.

"My daughter, Bonesnap, would certainly break the neck of your friend there if he doesn't watch his tongue, so I suggest you tame him," Bloodbath growled. Sven felt sweat on his face, but he could see Elfric was maintaining his cool.
"Release him back to us, then," Elfric commanded gently. Bloodbath looked to her daughter and let out a sharp bark. She got off Ragnarok and before he could even react, Sven ran forward to restrain him.
"Dumbass, read the room," he hissed at the Telenine.
"Soooo, what brings you here, wolfy? I assume you're the leader of your little pack."
"The Telenines back there are my soldier's family. Let them go free, please. This is their home," Elfric remained calm in his delivery of his words. Bloodbath's face soured.
"Their home? Pah! It is OUR home now."
"I understand that you escaped a laboratory and do not want to return, but I am required to bring you back. You have the choice to come quietly."

Bloodbath sneered. Her tail raised up,signaling to those behind her to approach.
"You forgot to mention the choice where we don't 'come quietly' and instead end your life right here and now," she growled lowly. Elfric narrowed his eyes. As soon as he reaches to grab his Cronus blade, the fight begins.

Outside, Hanji is taking a breather. "Two of the three psycho beasts knocked out. just waiting for the third," she sighs. Suddenly, the third beast charges at her from behind, but she continues to sit calmly. Before he connects, Haluk slams into the beast with his horns and tosses the creature into the air. He lands with a thud and a whimper. He goes to rise again but Haluk nails him with a backwards kick. This time, he's down for the count.

"Oh good! There's the third! Also a male. Nice work Haluk, you've really grown stronger," Hanji compliments as she turns around. Haluk sighs but the two work together to pile the third beast onto the back of the cart. She can hear the fighting inside the cave from where she's at.
"Haluk, let's go assist now that we're good out here!" and she clambers onto the Neela's back, ready to storm the cave.
Inside the cave, three of the creatures are knocked out but Bloodbath and her daughter remain tough. Sven and Ragnarok keep the daughter busy while Elfric takes on the matriarch. Elfric is starting to overpower Bloodbath though, and her daughter sees the opportunity to break away from the other two males and sucker punch Elfric. The two females are about deliver final blows to Elfric but an arrow grazes Bloodbath's ear. She howls and backs off. Elfric sees Hanji, wielding a bow and arrow, has arrived with Haluk, the latter of who tosses the other beast with his horns.

"Hey, not bad you three! So here's the rest of them then," as she points her Ornamented Hook swords at Bloodbath and her daughter.
"You have no chance of winning. Surrender," Elfric stands up, pointing his Cronus blade as well. Surrounded, Bloodbath clicks her teeth and surrenders.[bp]Ragnarok checks on his family and reunites with them, realizing how much he has grown since he left them, but also how much he does love them. His parents are so proud of their son, even though they miss him greatly. They agree they need to let Ragnarok continue to forge his path as is, but want him to visit more often. He agrees.

Meanwhile, Hanji treats the wounded Bloodbath.
"I don't understand why you're doing thi--OWW! That stings!" the matriarch yowls as Hanji sprays antiseptic on her ear wound.
"Well now, you don't want to get an infection do you? Sadly I cannot stitch your ear back together, so congratulations! You have a fancy new scar to return home with," the Jollin laughs while Bloodbath fidgets, grinding her jaw uncomfortably.
"We'll only end up with more scars, possibly even the cost of our lives going back there, to that man," Bonesnap snarls. "What's wrong with us wanting to be free?!"
"Nothing. But you can't steal the home of another, you have to find your own territory." Elfric reprimands.
"But you're sending us back to that man! Why does it even matter if we found our own land to claim for ourselves??"
"Bonesnap, calm yourself. Let Mother talk," Bonesnap soothed her daughter. Bonesnap whooped angrily, but loped to her mother's side quietly after.
"My daughter is right. Even if we were given the chance to try again and do it right, you would still take us back there, correct? As you were ordered to do so."
"Yes, unfortunately. It's not my decision to make. Your creator cannot let your kind roam free until he is absolutely certain you won't unbalance the ecosystem," Elfric explained.
"That'll never happen!" Bonesnap yelled in outburst. Bloodbath grabbed her daughter's jaw with her own, silencing her.
"Forgive my daughter's outburst, but she is still right. We may never see the natural light of day again, depending how long we are kept in that forsaken place."
"It will take time. You have to prove your kind can live among the rest of us," Hanji reassured. "You know...that gives me a thought."

Back at Euclid's, the guild returns with the creatures captured, though Bloodbath and her daughter walk freely alongside the cart.
"Splendid! That is all eight! And their private room is prepared to ensure this cannot happen again," Euclid clapped his hands together, ready to move his specimens back inside.
"First though, Euclid, I have a proposal for you," Hanji announced. Euclid's smile faded but he listened intently. "This here is Bloodbath and her daughter, Bonesnap. They are competent and speak the native language. Is it possible to allow these two to be ambassadors for their kind, to prove that they can mingle with the rest of the ecosystem and not harm it?"
"I..." euclid started but couldn't think of what to say.
"If it makes it easier, allow at least my daughter."
"But, mother!"
"Bones, as matriarch of our kind, it is my job to take care of the rest of these clowns. My temper also gets in the way of things. But if you can represent our kind, by staying with this--what do you call yourselves again, a guild?"
"Yes" Sven replied flat. He groaned. Goddammit, another mouth to feed, really...
"Then as matriarch, I request my daughter be allowed to roam free with this guild and make a name for our species. Show the world, so that the rest of us can one day reunite, as a family again," Bloodbath's eyes shown brightly. Bonesnap's eyes welled with tears and she embraced her mother. "It won't be long, my dear Bones. Your Mother is proud of how you fought today, and she wants you to keep fighting. May this guild train you well, and bear your fangs proudly for me."
Euclid sighed and shrugged. "Fine, but only her. The rest of you have to stay here until your daughter can prove your kind is safe to roam freely across the world."
"Thank you, Euclid. We'll visit as much as we can, but it is time for us to get going I'm afraid," Hanji frowned. Mother and daughter embrace one last time, before the guild, with Bonesnap in tow, leave Darkside behind for the time being.