"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
~ Tiefing ~I remembered a moment not very long ago, when a wolf had caused me harm without actually CAUSING me harm. I had forgotten his name quickly.But I could still remember the feeling.When Rayla first stood before me and showed me her teeth, the man alongside her took me by surprise. I could admit that. His teeth hurt my arm where they sank in; that was nothing unusual, and certainly nothing I wasn't used to. But when he bit me, my mind flooded with memories -- and damaging feelings.I vaguely remember stumbling around in a fog while I fought for control, and trying to shake him off of me. It was stupid of Rayla not to attack me then -- if she had, she might have even KILLED me
Winter gales sometimes leave the most bittersweet trails. I thought about this as my Pack stood there in a silent reverie, watching the cave that had been our home for many weeks now.It was silly, I suppose, to hold such an attachment to a place that I knew deep down could never house us for long. The days we spent here paled in comparison to the place we all knew and loved; yet still, we had worked so very hard to turn it into a livable space within a very short amount of time. This cave had been our sanctuary, our retreat, when we felt we had nowhere else to go. I found it impossible not to feel a strong sense of gratitude -- an obligation to say what might be a final farewell.I spared a moment to look around myself. On either side, my closest companions stood silently in watchful commiseration. Surry and Rufias wove their fingers together tightly on my lef