Writing Prompts:
1. Pain fogged her memories.
2. She was not known for her...
3. "Oh I disagree."
Pain fogged her memories. Kara stirred. Every bone in her body aching. She had never felt so weak in her life. Kara managed to sit up... that's when she felt the chains. Around her neck was a collar that irritated her flesh; thousands of tiny needles being screwed into her neck. Silver restraints. She was in a dungeon underground. She could smell the damp earth around her among the smells of other creatures like herself.
It was then part of it began to come back to her. She had been fighting in a battle in her native forest, the barbaric lands of Germania. She was fighting Roman soldiers. She could still taste their blood in her mouth, feel it on her fur, warm and salty. Werewolves against Roman soldiers. The empire had been collecting werewolves ever since it's founding. Getting wolves to fight in their wars but many resisted. Despite their best efforts, the Roman legions had never faced such ferocity from such natives. Not just werewolves but the human tribes as well. How many soldiers will Rome be content to throw at the so called barbarians until they give up? Kara climbed to her feet, she was naked, mud and dried blood caked on her body.
Kara's heightened senses caught others like her. She pulled on the bars but a female voice called to her.
"I wouldn't if I were you," she said.
Kara looked ahead and saw another female werewolf in a cage opposite her. She hid herself in the shadows crouched in the corner of her prison.
"Though I'm surprised you woke up so soon," the woman said. "Most of our kind that they bring in here sleep for days."
"I'm not like the others," Kara growled. Her eyes glowed yellow. The other prisoners grew restless.
"I know. You're an Alpha," the woman marveled sitting up with interest. "I could sense you the moment they dumped you in here." Alpha werewolves were from pure bloodlines. Always mating with other werewolves instead of breeding with human mates. Alphas have stronger resistance to silver and wolfsbane which is why it took Kara longer to succumb to the poison.
"I come from Germania."
"Heard many Alphas reside there," another voice chimed in. Male this time. He was in the cell right next to Kara's.
"You'll certainly give them a show," he chuckled dryly.
"I'm no one's pet to amuse," Kara growled ferociously, some of her strength returning.
"I used to think that way too," said the male. Then the male curled up in a corner of his cell and attempted to sleep.
"Don't mind Drago," the woman said. "He's been here the longest. His howl is worse than his bite these days. I'm Una."
Kara once more pulled on the bars making a fuss that caused the ceiling of her cell to open.
"Quiet you beast!" called a rough Roman soldier. They poured water onto her, when it hit her skin it was like being bathed in boiling water. Tiny plants of the aconite seared her flesh making her collapse. Kara bit back the scream catching it in her throat. She would not let the Romans see her beaten even if she was in chains.
"It took our entire supply of wolfsbane to keep this one asleep for the journey," recalled a soldier.
"She'll make for great entertainment," commented one with approval.
The bars above were shut leaving Kara simmering in wolfsbane.
* * * *
She was never known for her quiet temper. When Kara woke up again it was to see a tall imposing man in a fine white and blue tunic. He had piercing blue eyes that showed no fear. Kara only glared at him. The man smiled.
"I hear you've been causing trouble for some of my men," he said. "And making some of the inmates restless."
Kara climbed to her feet and once more pulled on the bars though she might as well have been a human pulling on a stone wall. The man laughed.
"Such spirit," he marveled. "I've heard about you Alphas."
"Then you should know better than to put an Alpha in a pack with other werewolves," Kara smirked.
"She speaks," he cocked an eyebrow. "Drago here tells me your name is Kara. You may call me Marcellus."
Kara continued to glare but continued the conversation, "What are these chains, Marcellus?"
"Those chains are nothing compared to the collars," Marcellus explained. "The collars were enchanted by Egyptian mystics to keep you from turning. When the collars come off then you can turn at will."
"For your entertainment," Kara put together already.
"Not unless you would like to join Rome's Legions," Marcellus offered. "I sponsor this gladiator school for wolves and take the best ones on campaign. I think an Alpha could help us immensely."
Kara smiled then spoke firmly, "You better kill me now, Marcellus, because when I get out of here I'm gonna rip your throat out and feed on your entrails." Marcellus paused for a moment but he matched Kara's evil smile.
"You all say that," Marcellus stood up straight, shoulders back, chest puffed out, "but eventually you all bend the knee."
Marcellus turned his back on her but Kara spoke angrily "Oh I disagree." Marcellus continued walking, smiling to himself imagining how Kara was going to be broken.
Kara sat back down, exhausted from putting on her show of strength and resistance.
"You should just make it easy on yourself," Drago called out to her. "Just bend the knee and you'll survive."
"I'm an Alpha," Kara bit through her teeth. "I don't kneel to others. They kneel before me."
Drago scoffed, "Enjoy the pain then."
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