Celebrations of Life and Death

The Redwood Valley Pack lands were a quiet place, serene almost: beautiful forestry full of ancient redwoods to the west, central open planes of lush grass and wildflowers, and to the east an enormous salt lake that shimmered like a sapphire below a clear blue sky.

It was truly idyllic.

Contrary to what the humans make out in the movies, werewolves are inherently good. Alpha and Luna McGowen were strong Celtic warriors, but they ruled their pack with compassion. They never sought lands or power, simply peace.

But where there is good, there must be evil, and peace is never everlasting.

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It was a warm October evening, twenty years ago, and most of the Redwood Valley pack were gathered near the lake pier for a celebration of life. Alpha Patrick and Luna Fenella McGowen had had their first baby just two weeks ago; a beautiful baby girl with flaming red hair. They named her Fianna after a group of ancient Celtic female warriors, because they knew she would grow up to be a strong, fierce, and independent she-wolf one day.

The ancient Celtic clan superiors, the Lycans, had visited last week to congratulate the pack on their new addition, and we tonight we rejoice, for with their visit, it seemed that fate has promised Fianna McGowen a truly bright future ahead of her.

Music filled the air and people sang along and danced merrily with their loved ones. Fireflies drifted over the lake, their reflections on its mirrored surface seemingly doubling their number. Drinks were flowing late into the night; the werewolves of Redwood Valley pack spent the evening feeling full of hope and promise in the knowledge that their future had been born safe and well.

But fate can be a cruel mistress, and the road to her future would be difficult for Fianna McGowen.

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Watched.

The festivities were being watched from the shadows of the redwood forest to the west, where danger in the form of the brutal and power-hungry Salt Creek Pack were waiting silently for the opportune moment to strike. Their new Alpha, Alpha Carlos Rivera, had been slowly expanding his lands since taking over after his father died a year ago. He was careful, purchasing land from humans first so his sinister plan would not be discovered.

His Luna, Sofia, had also recently had a baby, four weeks ago. A boy: Darius Rivera, the Salt Creem Pack’s future Alpha.

His new baby boy made Alpha Rivera more ruthless; it had sparked a sense of urgency, and he was desperate to build an empire so large that no man or werewolf would ever be able to challenge his son for it. He spent a month planning his first attack: he would strike the Redwood Valley pack. Their lands were vast; plenty of usable space to spend his wealth on and develop his pack. It was a good choice strategically too; he could enter the redwood forest from the other side and stalk through it.

Also, Alpha McGowen had extended an invitation for tonight to Alpha and Luna Rivera, offering for them to join in their celebrations and so they could celebrate Alpha Rivera’s new baby too. Alpha McGowen had hoped their children could grow up as friends and it could form a strong alliance between the two neighbouring packs.

Carlos Rivera declined the invitation, but unbeknownst to the McGowen’s, he was attending anyway, in secret, watching – a particularly cold act, even for him. Rivera assembled his warrior force and using the celebrations as cover, they snuck on to Redwood Valley land and sat in amongst the forest.

Watching.

Waiting for the opportune moment.

Their guards would be down. They would be disorganised, he knew. Many of the warriors would likely be drunk and patrols would be at a minimum. It was the perfect time to strike. Savage, yes, but perfect.

He waited until it was dark and the only light that remained was the crackling fire pit. The music had quietened down now, and the mothers and children had gone to bed. He may be ruthless, but he was not a monster – women with children were not the targets here and they would be offered the opportunity to join Salt Creek Pack when all was said and done. If they refused, they would be exiled to live as rogues. They never like it, but a mother’s instinct to protect their child is one of the strongest powers in the universe and he believed this would force the mothers to submit to him. They only want the best for their children and the life of a rogue, an outcast, is a difficult life for anyone, let alone a child.

Alpha Rivera would need them anyway. He is trying to build an empire for his son and slaughtering the populations breeding stock would have the opposite effect. These children would never know what will happen here tonight. They will learn what he wills them to learn. He has named his conquests “The Expansion,” and the children here tonight will be taught that their parents died bravely supporting him, helping Rivera fight rogues and uniting packs to defend themselves from a rogue war.

Alpha McGowen was leading a chorus of an old Celtic song, singing in Gaelic, the remaining men and women joining in now and then.

“Bhí mise ‘s óigbhean lá gabháil an bóthar

Thugamar féin an samhradh linn

Cé chasfaí dhúinn ach an gruagach cróga

Thugamar féin an samhradh linn”

Alpha Rivera holds his right hand at head height and waves it forward, once – advance, slowly.

The night falls silent as the song comes to an end.

His hand forms a fist, and his army stills.

They wait.

Rivera looks right to his Beta, Jorje Diaz, his best friend, and most trusted advisor. He gives Diaz the signal, a nod of his head, and Diaz moves off right with a small group of thirty warriors. As Diaz disappears into the distance amongst the trees, Alpha Rivera looks behind him at the rest of his warriors. He has brought one hundred warriors; it should be more than enough to complete their mission tonight, he thinks.

The Redwood’s had been foolish in letting their guard down so much. Alpha Rivera knew he would never make such a mistake.

A hooting sound echoed through the trees off to the right – Diaz is in position.

This is it.

The Salt Creekers shift to their animalistic forms.