crucio (crucio) wrote in cwf,
@ 2010-04-26 23:53:00

open to quillan
Kellen was a fighter, but he wasn't doing well. The only thing really keeping him going was the fact that he had to see his son again, he just had to. Kieran needed him. He had no mother, and while he had the pack, Kellen knew his son well enough to know that Kieran needed him. He was all ready worried sick about his son, having felt the panic and despair from his son easily. They were connected more than an average son and father were, and Kellen knew that Kieran was special like Wendell had suggested. He just wanted to get back to his son more than anything else in the world. In between shifts, which were restless and he couldn't move, he just tried to sleep. He would ask about Kieran every day, though, obviously more worried about his son than himself.

At the moment he'd dozed off. He was grimey, dirty and disgusting, and he wanted a shower. He felt like he was sick with something because he wasn't getting enough food, and his body was literally stealing nutrients from itself. He looked haggerd, and broken as he laid on the little bed, curled up and completely silent. He was strong, and strong minded. He wouldn't speak to anyone but Quillan because Quillan was the one person he felt like he could convince to help him.

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impotentwaffle
2010-04-28 07:19 am UTC (link)

Every time Quillan spoke to Kellen, it grew more and more difficult to believe what Rex told him about the vicious nature of werewolves--even pack wolves. It certainly didn't help matters that Rex seemed to be testing him, sending him down there all the time. He got the sense that the older hunter knew about the way Kellen affected him, and was purposefully throwing them together to allow Quillan to prove himself.

Well, Quillan was starting to fail. He couldn't stand to see Kellen so drawn. He didn't care if Rex was going to get angry, he was frying up a few steaks for the captive downstairs. When he brought them, he wasn't afraid to get close to the bars, setting the plate full down on the floor and leaning his forehead against the narrow space. "Are you awake?"

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crucio
2010-04-28 07:41 am UTC (link)

When the door opened, and Quillan came down the stairs, Kellen knew it was him just by the man's scent. The smell of steak caused him to stir, and the blankets rustled as he pushed them back and tried to sit up a little bit. He was a mess, the humans Rex had with him were far from kind. It baffled him that Rex kept the company of such monsters, all the while calling him a monster.

When Quillan leaned against the bars, Kellen forced his eyes open and he turned his gaze towards him. He nodded, just barely, before he wet his lips and sat forward to take the plate of food.

"Thank you," he said quietly as he started to eat. Despite how starving he was, his movements were slow. He didn't want to choke on the food, and he didn't want to make himself sick.

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I'm making some interim stuff up. Hope that's okay!

impotentwaffle
2010-04-28 11:50 pm UTC (link)

"You were telling me about your alpha," he said, urging Kellen to continue. When he listened to the wolf talk about his family, his pack, it reminded Quillan of his brother. He hadn't told Kellen of the boy he'd only recently put down, but he seemed particularly interested in the life the man led as a werewolf. Slowly but surely, Quillan was beginning to think that he'd made the wrong choice, that Rex had urged him to do the wrong thing for his brother.

He watched the man eat, feeling guilty with each bite. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. He hated to think of Kellen down here with little food to keep him weak, and he hated to think of betraying Rex, the man who had saved his life.

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no worries! you're one of the few people i trust to puppet my kids when needed :]

crucio
2010-04-29 02:38 am UTC (link)

Kellen sat back against the bars and hitched his legs up a little bit as he closed his eyes and swallowed hard. He was so hungry, but the lack of food for the past week was making eating now difficult. He felt like he might be sick if he wasn't careful, but he also knew that chances like this wouldn't come along every day so he wanted to eat everything Quillan had been kind enough to bring down to him.

"He's a fair leader," he finally said after a moment. "He keeps us all in line. It's not like we shift and go hunting after humans. Hunter provides a safe place, and lots of land for us to run, but we don't go hunting humans. We know how to control our wolves, it's a part of us, and you have to learn how to control it. Some wolves without a pack, they don't learn it. They don't know how to control themselves, and there has been instances where Hunter's had to put some down who were beyond help. But there are some that he can save, and bring into our pack. And if you ever met Wendell, he's pretty much the sweetest person on the planet even though he's a wolf. He's Hunter's mate. They balance eachother very well, Wendell's like a little mother hen to the pack. He helps take care of us when we need it. And he's very smart, he helps the local police department solve murders and other crimes."

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impotentwaffle
2010-04-29 03:05 am UTC (link)

That didn't sound like a tribe of savage beasts in the slightest. Quillan kept relaxing against the bars, forehead pressed to one, noting how cold and hard it felt against his skin. "How can he tell if--" Quillan paused to try and word his question right without revealing too much of himself in the process. "How can Hunter tell if the wolves he kills are beyond help?" Secretly, he prayed that Kellen would describe exactly how his brother had acted. But deep down, he knew he wouldn't.

Half of Quillan's attention was turned upstairs, listening for any kind of movement. He knew that Rex, or even Oliver and Harris, would be able to tell that Kellen had been fed more than usual, but it was worse to get red-handed, so to speak.

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crucio
2010-04-29 03:12 am UTC (link)

Kellen swallowed hard, then took a few more bites before he reached for a bottle of water. After a sip, he relaxed a little more and opened his eyes so that he could turn his attention in Quillan's direction and meet his eyes. He liked the man, he could tell he had a good heart, and was struggling with everything going on around him.

"They're wild," Kellen said after a moment. "They can't seem to really seperate their human side from the wolf. The wolf has taken complete control, and when the human side has faded so completely there's really no way to bring it back."

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impotentwaffle
2010-04-29 03:38 am UTC (link)

At the answer, Quillan had to turn his eyes away, avert them down to the floor where he pretended to see something interesting before swinging his gaze to the stairway, checking out some imaginary noise. His brother had definitely been himself.

"Rex has killed a pack before," he said softly. Quillan's voice was almost always low in volume. He didn't mumble, or murmur, but it was difficult to hear him sometimes if you weren't paying attention. Rex had learned to take pause and listen to him closely. "He didn't take a hostage first though. I'm sorry you had to suffer before--well--before whatever happens."

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crucio
2010-04-29 03:44 am UTC (link)

Kellen could tell that there was something eating away at Quillan, and while he could guess, he could never be sure until he asked. It wasn't the right time to ask, though. Not yet. Kellen was very perceptive and he knew how to read people very well, especially ones as open as Quillan.

"You think that those men only do these things to my kind? If you do, you're both fooling yourselves, you and Rex. They've killed many people, boys, probably young. I can smell it on them, that kind of thing doesn't... It doesn't wash away," he said as he swallowed hard. He could smell Robin on them, faint traces, but he knew they were the men who'd taken the boy and nearly killed him. "They're the monsters, not me. Not my pack," he added quietly as he lowered his gaze down to his plate, which was now empty. He slid it back over to Quillan before he leaned back again. "Rex won't kill my pack. Trust me on that. Hunter is a pureblood, he's stronger than ... Anyone I know. Anything I know. And he will do whatever it takes to protect our pack. So will the other members. We'll protect eachother, and we're a big pack."

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impotentwaffle
2010-04-30 05:35 pm UTC (link)

With anyone else, Quillan would have immediately and fiercly defended Rex. But with Kellen, it just felt different. He was so--well, something that Quillan couldn't define just yet. They'd followed the wolf for awhile, learning his routines, and the way the man interacted with his son was lovely and sweet. Quillan hated thinking about it because it made him feel sick inside.

"Rex said they were attacked by wolves." The hunter knew what kind of people they were, but no one had told Quillan about it expressly. He didn't know that Oliver was a serial killer and Harris was his accomplice. "We're helping them. They'd captured one--and--and--that's what you're smelling." His voice faultered.

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crucio
2010-04-30 10:56 pm UTC (link)

Kellen swallowed hard and closed his eyes again as he lifted a hand to rub at the bridge of his nose. He wet his lips and cleared his throat.

"They did take a wolf, his name is Robin, and he's part of my pack. He's not even eighteen, yet, I don't think." He wasn't particularly close to Robin, but he was still pack, and even if Kellen didn't know a lot about him he was protective of the kid. "They raped him, you know. Tortured him, starved him, and Hunter found him. Robin wasn't the first. Well, he was the first of our kind. But they've done that to boys probably younger than him for a while now, Hunter said... The house smelled like death. And..." he paused, and let his hand dropped as he looked over at Quillan. "They've killed lots of human boys. Trust me."

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impotentwaffle
2010-05-01 12:47 am UTC (link)

His instincts had told him that there was something deeply wrong with the two men in their company. But Rex had chastised him for harping on it. Pulling back from the bars, Quillan stood up, picking up the plate as he did so that he could set it on the counter.

"You'd say anything to get me to distrust Rex." He was fighting the urge to believe the wolf because deep down he knew he was right. And if Kellen was right, then what did that make Quillan? It made him a monster when before he thought he was a hero. It was a difficult change in thinking to make. "Stop it. They didn't do those things to anyone. Rex wouldn't work with that kind of person." What Quillan was underestimating was Rex's obsession with finding a way to kill the Cold Water pack. Hunter was his great white whale of sorts.

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	crucio 2010-05-01 02:53 am UTC (link)
	Kellen watched Quillan closely, reading the man's body language. He took in a deep breath and swallowed hard before he scooted closer to the bars so that he could curl his hands aroun them. "I know you know I'm right," he said after a moment with a frown. "I know what they did to Robin. He's just a kid. Rex isn't who you think he is." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

impotentwaffle
2010-05-01 05:23 am UTC (link)

"I hardly know you," he said quietly. He'd known Rex far longer. But he felt connected to Kellen, and his gut told him to go with that feeling. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to make the headache go away.

"You weren't there. What your kind did to my parents and my brother--you're not human." It was a mantra that he had to say to himself to keep his own reality sane.

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crucio
2010-05-01 06:03 am UTC (link)

"Look at what your kind does to eachother every single day. Just because some humans are awful, and do terrible things, that doesn't mean that all of them should be hunted or condemned," Kellen said softly as he closed his eyes and struggled not to get too emotional. "I'm not those wolves, my pack isn't either. We've never hurt anyone like that and we never will. Humans do terrible things to eachother every day. Should I hold you accountable for every single one of them and what they choose to do?"

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impotentwaffle
2010-05-01 07:58 am UTC (link)

"Human's don't have the same sorts of advantages that wolves do!" He was actually pacing back and forth now, arms wrapped so tightly around his own waist that he felt like he could force an implosion on himself. I should call for Rex, he thought to himself. If Rex was there with him, he wouldn't be feeling so confused right now.

But Rex was not there and Quillan was starting to be faced with the reality of his previous actions. "I've killed people. I've killed your kind." It was the first time he really admitted to them being people at all.

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crucio
2010-05-01 08:08 am UTC (link)

"That may be true, but some have advantages over others. You're obviously stronger than others like you. Smarter. Some are faster," Kellen pointed out.

He was reaching a break through, and he could feel it. He felt a lot of things when it came to Quillan, though it confused him.

"You didn't know any better. You didn't understand. You were hurt and upset, you were just doing what you thought was right. But things are different now. You watched me for a while, didn't you? What did I ever do that was so terrible, Quillan? Rex wants to kill my son. What did he do that was so terrible? He's just a boy."

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impotentwaffle
2010-05-01 03:48 pm UTC (link)

Putting his head in his hands, Quillan felt so overwhelmed that he could barely breathe. Kellen's words brought up memories of watching him with Kieran. This was all wrong. "I can't--" he shook his head and turned and went upstairs, fleeing instead of dealing with this.

He was gone for a long time. The basement teemed with the abrupt emptiness he'd left behind. Quillan was upstairs, avoiding Oliver who was home, but locked in his room doing god knew what. When Quillan finally made up his mind, he knew he had to act fast. He grabbed a bag and stuffed some clothes in it. It was the rashest of decisions, but Quillan couldn't stand the feelings of betrayal that he was finally admitting. Rex was not who he thought he was and it was like losing a father and gaining a mortal enemy all at once.

With his bag slung over his shoulder, he slipped quietly downstairs with the key to Kellen's cage. "Can you walk? I'm letting you go and I'm leaving. Maybe Rex will come after me first if he realizes that I'm gone as well. That should give you a head start." Quillan didn't think the wolf would want them to go together.

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crucio
2010-05-01 05:20 pm UTC (link)

When Quillan took off up the stairs, Kellen let out a heavy sigh of defeat and slung back away from the bars to curl up on the bed. He closed his eyes and a few tears slipped down his cheeks, but he made no noise. He wiped them away and turned to lay face down, pressing his face in against the dirty mattress. He was starting to feel as if he'd never get through to Quillan in time, and he'd die in a cage. It was the worst of thoughts. And someone needed to warn Hunter.

When he heard the door, and Quillan's voice, he sat up slowly but looked a little stunned at the man's words. He blinked and furrowed his brow before he nodded his head.

"I can - I can try," he mumbled softly. "I don't... I don't think I'll get very far. I can't go home like this, Kieran can't see me like this."

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impotentwaffle
2010-05-01 05:53 pm UTC (link)

Quillan felt like this was the last decision he'd ever make. Rex would kill him for this and he knew that he was no match for the hunter. Rex was an excellent tracker, but Quillan also knew some of his weaknesses. Like right now, he knew that when the man came home, he wouldn't believe what had happened and he would wait for some miraculous explanation to come to him. That would buy them time.

"I'll take you to a hotel. Someplace you can get cleaned up. Maybe we can call someone from your pack from there." Quillan cringed. Not only was he setting Kellen free, he was going to help him warn the Coldwater pack? He'd taken one step off the cliff and now he was tumbling end over end into the abyss. He slipped into the cage and tried to help Kellen get to his feet.

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	crucio 2010-05-02 02:28 am UTC (link)
	Kellen had a hard time getting to his feet because the cage was so small and cramped that he hadn't really gotten to work his legs much. They were weak, but he managed with Kellen's help and leaned against the other man. "Thank you," he said softly, tears all ready forming in his eyes all over again. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

impotentwaffle
2010-05-02 04:50 am UTC (link)

Feeling the weakness and malaise that clung to Kellen stoked Quillan's guilt. He made sure to support the wolf as best he could and helped him walk out. The stairs were going to be another issue entirely and Quillan figured that simply carrying Kellen up them would be faster. Time was of the essence for them.

He bent down and scooped his hand underneath the backs of Kellen's knees and hoisted him up rather easily. The man was slight to begin with, and he'd lost weight quickly because of his wolf metabolism and lack of food. Hiking up the stairs, he made a quiet 'shh' to indicate that someone was still in the house and could hear them. With the bag over his shoulder, he made his way out of the house and into the garage where he loaded Kellen into the car Rex kept for small errands that didn't require room to haul anything.

"You should rest; I'll get us where we need to go. Should we stay in a hotel near Coldwater, or go farther than that?" He didn't know how long Kellen wanted to wait to see his son, or his pack.

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crucio
2010-05-02 04:59 am UTC (link)

When Quillan picked him up, Kellen was a little surprised, but the other man was warm and he just leaned into him and held on. Kellen usually always ran hot, but the lack of food had left him feeling colder than usual. He pressed his face down against Quillan's shoulder and swallowed hard, keeping quiet until they were out and into the car. He leaned back and opened his eyes before he turned his head to look over at the other man.

"Rex will probably look for us in Coldwater, won't he? Seattle's big, it's probably best for now."

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impotentwaffle
2010-05-02 06:31 pm UTC (link)

Quillan agreed. Rex would assume that Kellen would run for his pack. Kellen was right and Quillan set his sights on Seattle. Perhaps with the cash in his pockets, they coud get lost in the urban landscape. His adrenaline was kicking in and as he pulled out of the garage, he took one last look at his old life and then headed toward the unknown.

The drive wasn't so long, and Quillan found a small outoftheway hotel. He helped Kellen inside and set him on one of the beds before locking the door. It wasn't like a lock would keep Rex out, but it made Quillan feel better. He leaned against the door and tried to take some deep breaths.

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crucio
2010-05-02 11:10 pm UTC (link)

Kellen had passed out during the ride, and he only came to when he felt himself being put down on the bed. He sat up, quiet noises of discomfort escaping him from the wounds Oliver and Harris had inflicted on him, and from the way his bones ached from malnutrition. He let out a few labored breaths as he settled against the headboard, and he gazed over at Quillan.

"I need... A bath, please? Can you help me?" he asked softly.

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impotentwaffle
2010-05-03 01:43 am UTC (link)

It was a perfectly logical request, but it made Quillan uncomfortable. He'd seen the man naked before doing various tasks, or observing Rex. But now they weren't hunter and captor anymore. They were on the run together.

"Of course," he said with a little hesitation as he stood up. "I'll--um--I'll go draw the bath." He stood up and disappeared into the little bathroom. The sound of water running filled the small hotel room. Not long after, Quillan came back out so that he could stand next to Kellen. "Do you want me to help you undress? Um--here would probably be best, then I can help you to the tub." He tried to be official about it.