EVOS
Volume One: AWAKENING
Chapter One
Part One: Enter Hound of Neo-Ulster

It's the year 3047 and a lone figure was running down a cobblestone path. His sneakers lightly thudding against the stones. His crimson locks bouncing and fluttering in the breeze. He kept running, hardly stopping when pulling out his water bottle and taking a swing, water mixing with the sweat. He soon stopped at the crest of the cliff over looking the town he resided in. He leaned on the railing, his sweat drenched sleeveless shirt clung to his body; his shorts unstuck themselves from his legs in the slight breeze. His red hair blew in the breeze, held back with his cloth headband.

He sighed, and looked down at the village, and then at the sky, the sun was just barely lifting itself over the rolling hills. "Ah, morning," he breathed "It's always for beautiful in Neo-Ulster."

"You're, right, mutt. For once." A deep, new voice filled the tranquil air.

The red head turned around, "Baothghalach, I thought I smelled something foul. Isn't it time for your yearly bath, you damn cat?"

Baothghalach looked at the red head with bloodlust in his dark eyes, the right shadowed by the white hair pooling over his forehead. The dark half of his hair slicked back. Six scars marred his face; three going across from one cheek to the other with the other three over his left eye. He laughed, "Kenneally, why are you working so hard? What do you have to prove?"

"Everything. Unlike you, I'm going to get into the Guild through hard work, not paying my way through" Kenneally barked, balling his fists.

Baothghalach smirked, "Is that what you think, McReily? That I'll use the means of money to get into the Guild? Then you are more stupid then I thought. Do you wanna see how I will get into the Guild?" Baothghalach launched without warning. His long, sharp claws swiped at the smaller boy. Kenneally was surprising agile for his muscular build. He dodged the swift swipes of his senior of three years. Kenneally saw his opening and went in with a powerful uppercut, cracking Baothghalach in the jaw. The thin fighter was lifted off his feet and landed hard on his back, a few feet away. He lay motionless for some moments, enough for Kenneally to catch his breath.

Kenneally started to see Baothghalach stir then get up, his hand going for his jaw, a bruise already forming. "What the hell hit me?"

"My fist."

"Don't get cocky, pup. That was a lucky shot," Baothghalach got up and walked away. The bi-colored haired man looked back and scoffed. Kenneally turned around and headed toward his home.

In the village, Kenneally walked around, watching as his fellow villagers busied themselves with starting the day. The nineteen year old let out a content sigh. He went for a run, knocked Baothghalach on his ass, and know was looking for his favorite fruit vendor

"Ah! Nyline! And how are you this fine mornin'?" Kenneally said, putting on his charm, while leaning on the simple wooden counter.

Nyline, a beautiful eighteen year-old who had shoulder length, pin-straight brown hair, looked with the boy with hazel eyes that could melt the coldest of hearts. Her eyes and face held a smile that Kenneally could stare at for the rest of his life and never get bored. He's known Nyline practically all his life. When the other little boys would play "Champions", a play-fighting game, and rugby, he would be with her, helping her pick flowers and the freshest fruit from her daddy's fields. He never regretted spending that time with her. Even when she would come visit his older sister, Liza, they would spend at least an hour together. It has only been recently, the last couple of years, his affections for the young Nyline have evolved into something more romantic than the sisterly love he had for her when they grew up.   

Nyline beamed, "I've been fine, Ken. How are you? Back from your before-dawn run?"

"How did you know?" Ken asked, raising his eyebrow and smirking, knowing full-well how she knew.

"Well," she started, walking over to her fruit, while cleaning her hands on her apron, "Let's see. Since you turned sixteen three years ago, you would go for a run before the sun would come up and when you were finished, you would wander around the village before stopping here. Then you would pick up a pear and shine it on your shorts." She laughed as she handed the red-head a firm pear, just how likes them.

"I see. So Nyline, how about I switch it up for you?" He said, before biting into his fruit.

Nyline crossed her arms over her chest, looking at her childhood friend, "How are you going to do that?"

He swallowed, "By asking you out on a date tonight. We'll head to your pop's fields and pick flowers. I'll bring a picnic and we can dine under the stars!"

Nyline smiled, bright and sincere, "What brought on this sudden change of routine? Not that I'm complaining."

"Something special. A something you'll find out later tonight as the stars watch us." Kenneally finished off his pear and threw the remains into the waste bin near the counter. Nyline held out her hand for the payment, but instead, Ken surprised her again; by taking her hand turning it palm down and lightly kissing the top of her hand. He smirked then walked off, leaving the girl pleasantly shocked.

"Brother!" a female voice rang through the small house. Ken looked around to see his older sister by a year looking at him, wooden spoon in hand. "You went off on your run before I could give you the list for breakfast!"

"Aw, Liza, don't be like that!" Ken had a goofy smile on his face, "I forgot, is all."

Liza looked at him, and then huffed, "Fine, you can make breakfast; I have to go earn money, unlike someone!" She looked at him, her blue eyes piercing his green ones.

       "Who's making such a racket?" An elderly man walked down the stairs.

"Father!" Liza called.

"Pop!" Ken joined her.

The siblings hugged their father, a tall man, with a noticeable limp. He was in a work related accident a few years back and was left to retire early, but the factory was willing to support his family; but Liza still took a job at the metal factory; she's been working there since she was sixteen. He had grey hair creeping up on his dark lock and was dressed in a sweater and slacks, with a wooden cane. He smiled, his blue eyes shining with joy.

"How are my two favorite children?"

"Great pop! I was just about to run out to get breakfast, what would you like? I'll cook up somethin' real nice for you!" Ken smiled while Liza just rolled her eyes.

"I'm off to work, behave you two!" Liza called, putting on a light jacket. As she opened the door, a man dressed in a long black cloak was standing there, his arm raised to knock. "Hello? Can I help you?"

"Ah, yes," his voice deep, "Does a Kenneally McReily live here?"

"Who's asking?"

"Can I come in? I can explain. I rather not do it outside." Liza nodded and let the man inside, looking around outside before closing the door.

"Let me take your cloak," she said, her hands held out. He nodded and undid the button near the hood. The cloak opened up to reveal a very bulky and muscular man. He turned around and on the back of the jacket he was wearing was a large 'G', with alternating silver and blue stripes and a small feathered wing next to the 'G'. Kenneally looked at the man and gasped.

"The emblem of the Guild!" he pointed at the 'G'.

The man turned around, "So you know of the Guild? How?" He looked at Ken through his one ice blue eye; the other was covered with a black eye-patch, black spots littered on right side of his face, slowly spreading to the left side.

Ken froze up. Maybe he shouldn't have pointed that out so soon. "I-ah," he stammered, but his eyes never left the man's. "I-ah, I...I saw a man a long time ago, in the woods near here, and he was fighting this thing. He had the same 'G' on his jacket and was wielding a weapon that easily cleaved the thing in two. He cleaned the weapon then sheathed it. He turned around and saw me. I thought he was gonna do to me what he did to the thing. He walked over and knelt down.

" 'Boy,' he said, 'What you saw was something dark. I'm part of a group called the Guild that protects you and your family, and everyone you know and don't know. Now, you keep this a secret, ok? Just between the two of us.' And then he left. I never spoke about it till now."

The man looked at Ken then smiled, "You're a good kid, Kenneally. That's why I'm here. The Guild wants to recruit you." Ken looked dumbfounded. "Yes, believe it or not, ever since you were born, we've been watching you. You are what the Guild calls a B-EVO, or Beast Evolved. You are a human that evolved and gained the genes of an animal. You are on the next step in the human evolutionary ladder."

Michael McReily, their father, looked at the man with suspicion, "How do we know that's you're telling the truth?"

"I could Unleash myself to show you. I, too, am a B-EVO. My name is Runald Schwartz."

McReily looked at Runald, the sighed, "Well, Mr. Schwartz, where would you want to do this?"

"How about the forest where Kenneally saw the Guild member?"

"What about Mum?" Ken asked his father.

"She's already at the school, we'll tell her when she get's back."

The group left and wandered into eh woods, until they found a clearing. Runald knelt down and felt the ground. "I can still feel the fight. Though weak, Kenneally saw a Guild member fight here. OK," he stood and undid his cloak once more and threw it to Kenneally. "Now watch, 'cause this happens quickly." Runald took a breath and bent his knees, "Unleash!" From Runald's body a shockwave exploded, one that nearly blew Liza and her father over, but Kenneally just stood stock still. His green eyes glued to the morphing man.

A light flashed and standing in front of them, at a towering eight feet tall, two feet taller than the man's previous height, was a snow leopard-looking beast, still wearing the Guild member's uniform. He spoke, "I am Runald Schwartz, Snow Leopard of the Guild. With my help, along with the rest of the Guild, we'll train Kenneally to master his Beast and help him find his Myth."

"His Beast?! How do you even know Ken has this B-EVO thing?!" His father barked.

Runald walked over to Ken and put his paw on the boy's shoulder, "Ken, search deep down and find your Beast. When you find him, Unleash him." Schwartz said, his paw never leaving Ken’s shoulder.

Ken closed his eyes and looked deep within him. He searched till he opened his eyes and was in a room, dark and a single light were shining on a large cage. He walked over and put his hand on the bars. He felt a warm wind blow on them, like panting. "Are you my Beast?"

"I am. I am the Hound. I am you." The Beast came closer to the bars, the light shining on the cage revealed his face. A canine with a crimson mane, and green orbs like emeralds. Ken felt a connection, a familiarity with the Hound.

"You... Are... Me?" Ken reached out and touched the Hound's mane, it was soft and the canine did not react harshly. He let Ken pet him until he muttered.

"I am the Hound. I am you. Unleash me. So you can be me."

"How?"

The Hound looked to his left, Ken's right, and he nudged the lock with his nose. "You are the key. The Key to Unleash me! Unleash me! Unleash!"

Ken took his hands away from the Hound's mane and put it over the lock. His fingered brushed against it before he put his palm on the lock. "Unleash!" he howled.

Ken's body flashed, then the Hound's. "I am you. You are me. We are the Hound. You are the Hound!" The Hound barked.

Outside of Ken's heart, he opened his eyes and howled, "Unleash!" His body gave off the same shockwave as Runald's then began to glow. His body morphed and changed before the flash blocked out everyone's view. Once it subsided, Ken was gone.

The Hound now stood in his place.

He looked down at his paws, then at his whole body. He pawed his hair, the same crimson mane that the hound had.

"Am I... Now the Hound?"

"Is that what the Beast said?" the canine nodded. "Then you are the Hound. Now, that you have connected with your Beast, you can call upon this form whenever you wish. But be careful, the first couple of days, this form will drain you quickly of your strength." Runald sighed, "Tame." He changed back into eh six-foot man with an eye patch.

Hound looked at himself again and grinned, "Tame," he muttered, following Runald's example. He, too, transformed back.  "So what now, Mr. Schwartz?"

"Now, you can decide if you want to be part of the Guild, or you can lie here for the rest of your days. I'll be back a seven day's time. Think about it; discuss it with your family." Runald put his cloak back on and left.

The entire day, Kenneally thought about the Hound, the Guild, B-EVOs, and Runald Schwartz. Before long he fell asleep, only to wake and get ready for his date with Nyline.

It was a wonderful night, of flower picking star gazing and eating the delicious meal Ken put together, with help from his sister and mother. The two laughed, joked, and talked like they always did. Now, however, there was something new tot he mix; some flirtation. Both knew it, and continued. Finally, they ended up in the acre wide clearing where Kenneally set out a soft blanket for the two to lie on. Ken set down first, Nyline right after, her hand finding his. They sat in silence before Nyline's curiosity got the better of her.      

"So, what's this special something that you wanted to tell me?" she looked over and Ken smiled. He sat up, Nyline doing the same.

He looked into her eyes, his free hand coming up to caress her cheek. "Nyline, you know I'm not good with words, so I’m just going' say what comes to my mind." He took a breath, "We've known each other since we were just a lad and lass, and now, and we’re just an older lad and lass. And when we were younger, I thought of you as a little sister, one I didn’t mind hangin’ out with or blowin’ off the guys to go pick flowers with. Here I am, still picking flowers with you," he laughed, as did she. "I guess what I’m trying to say is that; I always want to pick flowers with you. I want to pick flowers for you. I want to be the lad to call you his Bonnie Lass. I want to... tell you. Nyline, I've fallen in love with you.

"For the past three years, I've fallen head o'er for heels ya. It used to be sibling love, but now... it's deeper and fulfilling. I see you every morning with this beamin' smile on, and I want to be the reason for the smile, from now till always. And I want that smile to be the reason for my smiles." He put his head down, and took another, shaky breath, "I'm in love with you, Nyline O'Cadhla."

He's claim was met with silence. It was several seconds of tense moments where Ken was beating himself up for telling her. He looked down again to hide his tears that were threading to fall.

His head was picked up by two soft hands and his lips were met with her lips. He smiled into the kiss, bringing his arms around her waist and deepening the kiss.

Once they broke he sighed and she rested her forehead against his, "I'm in love with you, too, Kenneally McReily." The stars and moon watched the budding romance come to full bloom until the rising sun too witnessed the young love sleep.     


A full week passed, and during which, Ken explained the situation with the Guild to Nyline. She was sad at first, but she could tell he wanted to do this. She didn't want to hold him back. She was at the McReily's when Runald Schwartz returned.

"So," he said, sipping some tea Mrs. McReily prepared, "what have you decided, young sir?"

Kenneally spoke, "It's not only my decision, Mr. Schwartz, but also tha' of my family and my Bonnie Lass," he smiled at the slight blush creeping up Nyline's face. He continued, "Even though I would wan' nothin' more than to go with you, if even one person wan'ed me ta stay, I would stay."

Runald stood and held out his hand, "Well, it was a pleasure to see you, Young McReily. I can show myself out," he replied politely.

"Ya didn't let me finish, Mr. Schwartz. I have a very understandin' family a'd they wan' me to know tha' they support me. Say 'ello to your newest Guild Member, Mr. Schwartz!" ken took his hand and shook it.

Runald just smiled and closed his visible eye, "Glad to have you on board, Young McReily. I'll give you a few hours to get everything in order."  

"Mr. Schwartz?" it was Nyline, she followed the man outside.

"Miss O'Cadhla."

"Please, call me Nyline. I have a question for you. Actually I have a few. “She mumbled, looking at the ground.”I've known Ken since I was little, and here we are, adulthood and yet, I still fell we're little kids. He's only nineteen, Mr. Schwartz, why are you here now?"

Runald looked at the sky, "Nyline. It means cloud right?" She nodded, he continued. "That’s a pretty name. And you're a pretty girl. Now, Kenneally has this amazing ability that many people don't have. Though he is young, even to our standards, he has control over it now that some people five years his senior only now has attained. After a few minutes, he was able to communicate with his Beast and understand it. I was not expecting that, I wasn't even expecting him to find his Beast, but he did and he unleashed it in a span of ten minutes AND had good control over it. When I was nineteen, I was still trying to figure out what my Beast was saying.  Kenneally is a B-EVO that has potential to be mouthing truly great." He paused and looked at her. "If it was up to me, I would have waited a few more years. But, he is some... one were need as soon as possible. I'll make sure he get's breaks and time to come back to Neo-Ulster to see you and his family."

"Thank you. Take care of him, for me?"

"Of course." He looked up and saw the small shop. "What's this?"

"This is my fruit stand. I wanted to walk with someone. I need to grab some things for Ken." She disappeared and yelled to Runald, "What kinds of fruit do you like, Mr. Schwartz?"

"Um, do you have any peaches?"

Nyline appeared again, a medium sized bag, "Here you go, sir. On the house." she handed him a peach.

"Thank you." He bit into the juicy fruit, enjoying it in a near bliss state. "It's been a few years since I had a peach. Better than I remembered."

"Good thing I threw in some peaches in here with Ken's pears as well, then."

"You're a good girl, Miss Nyline."

"Thank you."


After the tearful good byes, Ken and Runald were off to the Guild Headquarters. In the year 3047, travel by air was advanced, efficient and enjoyable. Ken looked out the wind as the clouds rushed by. Nyline came to mind. He went through his carry on bag and pulled out a pear and started to munch on the green fruit. He and Runald traveled in a private jet, which only seated them, the stewardess and the two piglets up front.

"Mr. Schwartz?"

"Call me Runald," he replied, filling in his crossword puzzle.

"Runald, where is the Guild Headquarters?"

"Guild Central, as it's called, is located in Italy, under the Vatican. You'll be schooled on why when we get there. For now, go to sleep. We still got another hour."

With that, Ken nestled in and let the good thoughts of his family, Bonnie Lass, and home drift him into a peaceful nap.



TBC in Chapter One-Part Two: Dragon of the East.