Memories in a Truck

There was a resounding thud as the older fellow soundly whapped Arkady on the forehead.
"Ow!"
"Pay attention!" the elder Gangrel said to the younger. Nearby, others watched, including the truly inhuman sire of Arkady's, the one called Spider. Spider's eyes gleamed from the above moonlight - those solid black pools reflective and deep.

Arkady craned his head back up to the one teaching him. "We normally have an affinity for being quite tough," his instructor said. "However, the City's Get seems to have lost that... tenacity, in favor of striking like vipers instead of bears."

Arkady listened - he could not disagree. The preternatural agility and alacrity given to him was something he cherished. But to withstand such punishment as his instructor claimed he could, now that would be something.

"You are going to know pain. You are going to be fed, and beaten. And fed, and beaten. You are lucky you are bound to Spider over there, else you'd be my own dog to strike at my will. But this will toughen you. Soon, like you can use your blood to change your eyes or sprout your claws, you will undergo the necessary changes to enable your own Fortitude to flourish."

There were no lies in that. The days of torment, of sound beating, fists and sticks and even the deadly claws of his brethren, tempered with rest and healing with the blood of his Country kin, Arkady knew pain and breaking and transformation. He was not allowed to fight back. He had to overcome it, to become something sturdier than his frail mortal self.

And in that time, so many years ago, Arkady managed to even be able to turn away the claws of his kin, to become a better animal. A better hunter in the snowy dark. Whether lit by moon or street lamps, he no longer feared blade or blow or bullet, and even deadly magic, talons and fire gave him only so much pause.

He thought about that on the drive through the fog, only to end up where they started. This rag-tag bunch of Sons and Daughters of Caine...
Perhaps they can unite under the tip of the Sword, and become a pack or coven proper. Only time will tell.

I do not want to be Arkady's bitch let me tell you...