Today heralded the final month of winter as we knew it. Everyone could feel the anticipation in the air as nature held its breath. Pretty soon, we would begin seeing signs of new growth peaking up from beneath the snow, and the water would start to thaw seeing the return of fish to hunt.
I stood just outside our cave admiring my Pack's recent handiwork. This included a fenced-in area to be used for sparring, and a small, covered plot of earth suitable for planting as soon as that became viable. I thought I'd probably jumped the gun in ordering that part. Definitely, in fact.
As always the voices of our children gave me heart whenever they went rambling by, probably off on another adventure. They had quickly become the pride and joy to all of us. In fact, it could even be said that the five of them were growing into a 'pack' of their own, in miniature, w
Courtning was pacing back and forth and muttering to herself as I approached. She startled a bit when I said "you seem to be having a hard time today. What's the problem?" "Alpha..." She ceased her frantic movements, and gestured around helplessly. "I just... I just can't get it right!" I raised an eyebrow. "Get what right?" "Well, this whole thing about Placis... I'm sorry, please don't be mad at me. I'm trying, really I am!" She took a deep breath, placing her hands behind her head and gripping her hair tightly. "Now it seems that everything I do is enough to piss her off!!"
"Rayla, we need a plan." I sat beside the fire, joined by Rufias, Surry, and Cil, as per usual. The three of them had formed such a massive part of the Pack as I saw it that before I knew it, I had begun taking it as a given that I would always be surrounded by at least two of them. I was grateful into eternity for the rock-solid core they provided me, as was I for their friendship; but very often they told me things I didn't want to hear. Even if they were right. I sighed, letting my head fall down into my hands. "I know. I know, Uncle Ruff, okay? I'm doing a bad job right now. I've never faced such a tough decision. Please don't be mad with me." Surry's hand fell upon my shoulder. "No one is mad at you." "Besides" Rufias said with a huff, "it isn't very like
~ The hour was late. Several of the males had already been by to 'check up' on their prisoners, assuming any of those still survived in the conditions lent to them. Thanks to a combination of the brittle cold, a lack of food, and the absence of hope for some, the Shifters who huddled in small groups within what was once a large tool shed were now suffering greatly. Each time a male walked in, an even greater hush would fall than the one already present. Often he would sneer at this. Sometimes he would make no comment, simply sniffing at the air for a minute before ducking back out. Not all of them were immediately violent. More often, however, the male would take it upon himself to make light of the captives' conditions: he would strut about and mock them, pulling on
I stood outside our cave with Cillium, watching as the sun began falling below the treeline. My fingers found their way into his fur. It was soft like silk. Warm like sunlight."That's it, then. That's the choice we've made. It has to be done."Cil just looked at me; and for once, his tongue stayed behind his teeth.The decision was unanimous: we attack Tiefing and his Pack, we wipe them all out, and in the process we reclaim what rightfully belongs to us -- our home. And we save whomever we can.I shivered, though not from the cold. Gone were the days when I thought we might welcome some of the men back into the Pack, despite the side they'd chosen. People can be easily led, and after years of listening to Tando's rhetoric I almost couldn't blame someone for falling und
The two children listened with surprising stillness as I went over what we had talked about. I gave them the abridged version, describing only the circumstances and the plan we were trying to concoct. I gathered that they’d probably heard most of it already -- and since Julius clearly thought he was old enough for such talk, I decided to let him make that decision for himself. Daffodil, however, was another matter.I too was angry with the boy for bringing her along, but I filed that argument away for later.“So you see” I was saying, “it’s very important that we get the jump on their pack, or we’re suddenly risking a lot more. We need a plan that will make up for our lower numbers. We’re thinking of going back over the mountain.”“No!” Daffodil suddenly pi
~ Tiefing ~"You shouldn't always wear that form. I doubt it can be healthy. Why don't you become human, just for a day?""I CAN'T."The woman glared at me. Well, I was good at glaring, so I glared back -- I glared at her until my eyes felt like watering. Hers didn't."I said all I'm going to say!" I snapped. She continued not to blink."What do you mean, you can't? Of course you can, Tiefing. You know how. What's there to be so afraid of?""I am not afraid!!!"I felt like howling. DAMN
~ Cillium ~Drip. Drip, drip. The gentle plunking of water droplets tickled the back of my neck as they fell, uncaring, from one of the branches. How annoying! It reminded me of my cave.Still though, I made no effort whatsoever to move from where I sat: upon a damp log amidst a clearing of trees, while the sunlight shone down around me and reflecting off the snow. This time however, it didn't blind me."It's wetter out today" I said. "Sometimes it's dryer, sometimes it's less, even though we're surrounded by what is actually water. Does it normally go through phases like this in the winter?"The woman who perched upon the log beside me nodded. And she looked beautiful...'
I took Surry's advice and spent the night in contemplation of what was to come. Less than a week from now the remainder of my Pack -- minus the seven children and a couple of others, particularly the elderly Saro -- would be leaving this place, possibly never to return.Our destination was the southernmost trail up the mountain. When my group had first descended, frozen and starved, the furthest thing from our minds was "I wonder how we'll climb back up this thing the next time." I had no idea if it was even feasible -- hence why Rufias had gone off to check on it early this afternoon.He believed it was doable, and I believed in him. Therefore, there was no more use in hesitating beyond waiting for the weather to shift.We had decided to move out on the first warmer day that came along, when the temperature was at