I pulled the warmth of the covers off me and stepped onto the cold wooden floor. The darkness in the room was almost tangible. I starred back at myself in my full-body mirror. I only filled half the mirror. My eyes shined dark blue like a dog eyes in the dark with a flashlight on them. My light brown hair was barely visible through the darkness. It didn’t take long before I could see perfectly in the dark. I reached for the copper door handle, wondering if I should open the door or let the nightmare play with out me. I couldn’t do that, I had to see her again. I pushed the door open and ran down the stair case. The bottom turned to the left and continued down two steps. I stopped running when the wooden steps turned into a blue, shaggy, carpet under my feet. The living room was warm but I was still shaking. On the other side of the room was the kitchen door.
The room grew cold as I touched the handle to door. I’ve opened the door a thousand times, but this time it was dark and corrupted. The door opened with a creek, at the same time pain and anger rushed out and filled the room. The sent of blood was thick in the air. I stepped forward and almost tripped over something on the floor. I looked down and a chill ran up my arms and down my back. My mother was laying face down in her own blood. I wanted to scream but there was someone else in the room. I looked up at him, but I couldn’t see him that well with my eyes filled with tears. He made only one movement and a crimson katana came down across my face.
I jumped up in a panic and through my hand over my face. My heart was beating a hole through my chest. “Damn Nightmares.” My voice was tired and scratchy. “16 years and that day still haunts me.” My voice was sounding better now that reality was catching up with me. I through the covers off and left them a mess as always. I got dressed and stood in front of the same full-body mirror that was in my dream. This time I filled the mirror, my hair was longer and a scar stretched from my left right eye to my left cheek. I wasn’t the only one who aged and had battle scars. The mirror had become cloudy. It was shattered in the middle with some dried dark liquid on it.
I looked at my right knuckle which barred another scar. I got it when I came home from the hospital. I was pissed off and didn’t want anyone to see me… not even myself. The only one I would let see me was my baby sister. I was the only one to take care of her. If not for me she would have had to grow up at the orphanage. I had enough of the darker points of my life so I walked down the stairs to the living room. I was alone. Sophie always woke up after me.
Opening the same the kitchen door that was in my dream, I realized how harmless it is now. I made sure to step over a large stain on the floor. “Morning mom.” Most of the kitchen was the same. A table with four seats, a fridge, a stove, some cabinets, and door that leads outside. The fridge began to hum when I opened it. I took the carton of eggs out and cracked four of them onto a hot pan.
“Eggs again?” asked Sophie entering the room.
“I paid for them. I’m going to eat them.” I answered.
I cut the burner off and scrapped the eggs onto two plates. Sitting down, I placed a plate in front of my sister and the other in front of myself. “Eat up.”
She is 17 now. She had long black hair with a short part covering her right eye. All she had on was a red and black robe that showed that she mastered the skills of her tribe. For some reason she was giving me a look like I did something wrong.
“What no fork?” I looked down trying to figure out where my fork was. “Forget your brain too?”
“I think so… must not have got enough sleep.” I rubbed the bridge of my nose where my scar cut through it.
“I’ll get them.” She got up.
I turned and stared at the stain. I missed her so much.
“Night.” Called Sophie with a concerned voice. “She’s gone… you need to move on with your life.”
“I know. But at least I can trick you into getting forks because I’m lazy.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You jerk!” She whipped the fork at me. I caught it before it could do damage and began eating immediately.
“You know, 15 were chosen.” Said Sophie before popping food into her mouth.
“Chosen?” I asked, not understanding.
“For the clans!” she yelled. “Wow Night, you are a moron!”
“That’s today!?”
“I know.” I sighed. “So are you… we might get separated and not see each other for years.”
“Night... You can’t always be there for me.”
“I know, I know… but I promised myself that I would protect you.” I looked at the clock. “We need to get going.”
I put the dishes in the sink and headed for the door. Sophie stopped me and pretended to clear her throat.
“What?”
“Forget something?” she gestured to her back.
“Damn it!” I ran up the stairs skipping every other step. I ran into my room and hopped onto then off the other side of my bed. It was leaning agents the wall in the corner next my bed, as tall as I was and razor sharp. “Can’t forget you.” I lifted the massive blade and strapped it to my back. I skipped the stairs and jumped over the rail. I froze when Sophie give me a strange look.
“You’re such and animal.”
“I know.” I smiled.
“You do realize that you can’t always protect me.” Her voice was full of concern. Trying to calm down the uneasiness growing in the pit of my stomach.
“I know, I know… but I promised myself that I would protect you.” I could hear my own sadness in my voice. “We need to get going.”
We were about halfway there when I decided to speak again. “Sophie, if we end up in separate packs, I want you to listen to the pack leader. Don’t do anything stupid.” Sophie closed her eyes and lowered her head and began to snore. “I know you’re listening.”
“Okay, okay!” she hurried me up. “As long as the leader doesn’t lecture me as much as you do!”
We walked deeper into the forest we called home. The moon was full and shined down in random streams of light through the leaves. I was enjoying our midnight walk until Sophie said, “Dork at 6 o’clock!” I tried to turn around to see what she was talking about, but someone trough his arm around the back neck and put me into a head lock.
“Well, well, well, look at what Sophie let out!” said the attacker.
I slammed my elbow into his stomach hard. “Nice to see you too, Nin.” I said as he dropped to the ground behind me.
“Morons…” mocked Sophie.
“You started it!” I replied.
Nin climbed back up to his feet. “That was a cheap shot!” He was about my height with lighter, almost red hair and brown eyes. He was dressed in blue jeans and a tan shirt. We had become friend after my father killed my mom. I was in the hospital a wile and was there with a broken arm.
“So you were picked by Luna?” He asked.
“Yeah… but its no surprised that she picked me.” I said.
“Why’s that?”
“If she picked a slacker like you then she would pick anyone!” We all laughed and walked together.
“Ya know…” started Nin. “There are rumors that members of the Shadow Wolf Tribe came here this morning.”
“It’s no rumor.” said a female voice next to Nin that caused him to jump.
“Damn it Sasha! Don’t do that!” yelled Nin.
Sasha had been Nin’s friend before I met him. She had helped him into the hospital after he fell out of a tree and broke his arm. Sasha was dressed in black skin-tight clothes with a red ribbon in her hair.
“You never change Nin.” Sasha laughed. “Four strangers have entered the forest, all of them were Shadow Wolves. Gathering information is my clan’s specialty.”
None of us trusted Shadow Wolves. We never even interacted with them. The stick to there affairs and we stick to ours. Shadow Wolf isn’t even a part of the Wolf family. Usually the unstable werewolves are sent to him. No one knows what he dose with them.
We gathered with the other werewolves in front of a marble white building with vines growing up one side. In front of it was a wooden stage with seven people and a podium.
“What’s going on?” asked Sophie who was just as confused as everyone else. “This didn’t happen last year!”
At the podium was a blond hair, blue eyed girl with fair skin and dressed in all white. Everyone knew her. She was Luna, the Alfa Wolf. Nicknamed ‘Mother Wolf’ for being the first woman to bare werewolf children. “Hello everyone.” Her voice rang like a singing angel. For some reason she could calm any wolf. “This year is different. The packs will bare six heads instead of five.” A low roar came over the crowed witch quickly gained in volume. On the stage for to the left was a man with long, messy, black hair. He was dressed in tore cloths with a creepy look in his burning red eyes. I was obvious to everyone that he was Shadow Wolf. “Silence!” demanded Luna and the crowed didn’t make a noise. They couldn’t, we were all bound by words. When the Alfa speaks, the words become law. I knew this but I still wanted to see if words would escape my mouth, but like a slave in chains, all I could do is wait.
“As I was saying…” she continued. “A clan assembled last year helped out Shadow, and he has come to help us as thanks for helping him. My children and I are grateful you come.”
“Me as well” said a tall pale man with long black hair behind Luna. He was dressed similar to Sophie and was the only vampire in the forest.
“I’m sorry, Lance too!” apologized Luna. “You know I think of you as a son.” The stage members laughed as the audience shared a muted laugh which was cut short by the silent awkwardness. “Shadow… you may tell the crowed what you have to say. Everyone can free there tongues.” It felt as if the chains fell, free at last.
“Greetings everyone.” Spoke Shadow Wolf. “I am Albert Hymm. Known also as ‘Shadow Wolf’. Three of my best Warriors are here in the ‘forest of Luna’. I have asked ‘Mother Wolf’ to add them to her new packs that form tonight. Before the ‘mother of wolves’ will allow this, she ask for them to be tested by some of her best in hand to hand. Wait to see them clash, I can not. I am proud to present; Tear, Claw, and Bones.”
Three wolves, two male, one female, stepped onto the stage. They were all dressed in tore cloths and had necklaces decorated with sharp animal teeth.
“Before I add them, I would like to test them.” Said Luna.
“They will do there job!” Snapped Shadow.
“I know… I just want to see how well they will do it.” She turned to the crowed. “Night, Tanya, and Devon, from the Fenrus Tribe.”
A hand smack into my back and pushed me forward. “Get going, Night!” said Sophie. I made my way to the stage with Tanya and Devon.
Tanya was a nice girl with long brown hair and bright green eyes. I had to spar with her a lot when we trained under Fenrus. She was a strong warrior and has beaten me a few times. You don’t want to get in a fight with her. She was pretty but not my type. I heard she fell in love with some ninja in the Black Tribe with the same first name as me. Devon returned from a mission and I never spared with him. He had short black hair and light blue eyes.
“Lets see how the Shadow and Fenrus Tribes compare.” Said Luna. I realized I had to spar with one of the Shadow Wolves and stomach started to twist in an almost sickening way.
“Sounds fun.” Said Shadow.
“Fenrus, make sure that everything continues as it should.” Luna demanded to her first born. My mentor just nodded and to the crowed. “You six come with me. You will find out who is in your pack after the test.”
Fenrus began to speak but I didn’t listen to his words. I was too busy thinking about the match coming up.
“SEE THE FIGHT! SEE THE FIGHT! SEE THE FIGHT!” Chanted the crowed that became a mob. Fenrus ran past me and stopped Luna. I couldn’t hear them over the mob that was increasing in volume.
Fenrus was returning to the chanting army when I stopped him. “Fenrus, what’s going on?”
“Some girl in Death Tribe decided she would convince the audience that the fights start after the ceremony.”
“Sophie!?”
“Bingo!” and with that he returned to the chanting army. Figures, Sophie always knew how to put pressure on me. If Luna gives in, and I knew she would, I would have the whole forest watching me. I could faintly hear Fenurs as the army became quiet and then cheered.
The training fields were nothing more then a large clearing in the forest. I’ve been training here under Fenrus for several years now. I could only hope that I was strong enough to prove my self to Luna that I can lead my pack.
The two Alphas lead us to the training fields. The training fields were nothing more then a large clearing in the forest. I’ve been training here under Fenrus with the rest of my tribe for several years now, just Fenrus did with his father Fenrir long ago. I could only hope that I was strong enough to prove my self to Luna that I can lead my pack.
“We will not start until the of the ceremony.” Said Luna. “You should use this time to prepare yourself mentally and physically. No weapons of any kind will be used; any lethal techniques or helping another will result in immediate disqualification. Devon will be pared with Bones, Tanya with Tear, and Night with Claw.”
I pulled my sword from my back and let it fall to the ground. Claw laid a sheathed sword with femur bone for a hilt on the ground. “Sorry brother… next time you can taste blood.” He must be unstable to refer to his sword as ‘his brother’. Claw had short messy hair and was skinny for his height. It looked like could easily defeat him but I wasn’t about to underestimate him. I should take him out quickly by changing into a wolf.
It wasn’t long for the forest to surround around us. Tear and Tanya stood facing each other in the center of the field. Claw and I were off the side. Bones and Devon were on the far side.
“May the best man win.” I didn’t want to offend him.
“I intend to.” Replied Claw crouching down.
“Get ‘em Night!” cheered Sophie. I looked into audience and seen my sister and my friends Nin and Sasha.
“Show him what you’re made of!” yelled Sasha.
“Kick his ass!” hollered Nin.
“Hope you don’t mind if I disappoint your fans.” Said my opponent.
“I would like to see you try.” I replied. “As skinny as you are, I might break you like a twig.”
“I don’t want anyone to release there wolf spirit,” Announced Luna. “only hand to hand or magic.” Damn, my whole plan was useless… might as well try to see what I can do. “Ready? GO!”
Claw lunged at me and swung an open had at me, but was too far away to hit me. For some reason I was launched backwards. His next move was fast that I didn’t even see him. He was also in the air above me with his arm stretched out. First his hand grabbed my neck, and then my back hit the ground. I was being choked and was starting to faint because the attack had knocked the wind out of me. I couldn’t be taken out so quickly in front of everyone. I slammed my foot into his stomach and flung him up and over my head. I quickly got my feet so he wouldn’t have an advantage. He jumped at me tiring to claw at my face. I retaliated by ducking and grabbing him by the neck. He was so light I lifted him off the ground. That maneuver seemed to have won over my little fan club with cheers. Claw planted his feet into my stomach and kicking off of me into a back flip.
“That technique you used,” still being careful of his next move. “what was it? You didn’t even touch me!”
“I compressed as much air as I could in front of my palm.” He explained. “All I had to do was push it close and release. The air decompressed and exploded out words…”
“Knocking me back and off guard,” I finished his sentence. “I admit, you’re cleaver.” I lounged at him and swung my fist as hard as I could as soon as he blinked. I was confused when ducked and grabbed my arm. He used my own momentum to pull me over his shoulder and slam me into the ground. He didn’t need to be strong, the stronger his opponent is the better his speed redirects the attack. I watched as he drew back his arm and clenched his fist. I rolled out of the way and let his fist crash into the earth. Instead of getting up, I jumped as close to him as I could and knocked him in the side of the head with my fist. After flopping onto the ground, I got up holding my possibly bloody nose. I checked for blood and was surprised that I wasn’t’ bleeding.
“You sucker punched me!” shouted Claw. I could tell that stunt pissed him off.
“Tried to… nearly broke my nose.” I said that as blood found its way out. “Damn!”
“You took more damage then I did!” laughed Claw. “You might be as unpredictable as I am!”
“I try.” I lied, It was desperation move and took the first opening I seen. The only thing I could think of is beating him with a series of hits and never giving him a chance to strike back. The only problem was… how to deliver the first blow without him pushing my force to his advantage. Hitting him upwards in the stomach was my best bet, I thought. If I could knock the wind out of him he shouldn’t have enough reaction time to dodge or block the next few hits.
Before I could do anything, Tear through Tanya into Claw. Tanya immediately got to her feet and charged at her opponent. Claw was pissed and ran after Tanya but something appeared in front of him. I was Shadow. “Watch your anger!” He shouted, very disappointed with his student.
“Claw is disqualified!” announced Luna. “Night wins by default.”
I could hear Sasha, Nin, and Sophie cheering. At first I didn’t understand what was going on. “Good job, Night.” Luna congratulated. “Maybe you should get out of the way before Tear and Tanya get you.” I hadn’t realized that our fight found its way into the area where Tear and Tanya was fighting.
I joined my sister and friends. “Hey Sophie,” I had to ask her. “Who‘s your Alpha?”
“Night.” She answered.
“Huh?” I asked confused.
“Night!”
“What!?”
“It’s you stupid!” she pushed me. “You are my Alpha!”
“Sasha and I are also assigned to you.” Said Nin.
“Looks like you guys know each other well.” Said someone I didn’t know. He was about my height with white hair and thick glasses. “I am Kitt from the Winter Tribe.”
It seemed like everything was muted as my mind tried to make sense of this. Then Luna broke the silence announcing that bones had knocked out Devon.
“Looks like the only one I don’t know in this pack is Kitt.” I said.
“Claw is in the clan too.” Said Kitt. “That is why you were paired with him.”
It felt like the whole world stopped turning. “Damn…” That was all I could say. There was a psycho in my pack.
Luna’s words spun the world again. “Tear seems to have been knocked unconscious. Tanya is the winner!”
I turned to face Nin and Sasha. “Let’s get some rest at my place this morning. Then we can leave next night.”
“When we leave we have to remember to talk like humans.” Said Sasha.
“Humans find it strange when people talk like there nocturnal.” Said Nin.
I had almost forgotten that the majority of humans sleep at night. Most werewolves sleep during the day. “You guys going to sleep over at mine and Sophie’s?” I asked. “Sasha could have Sophie’s old room and Nin could the couch.”
“Sounds good to me.” said Nin.
“Why not?” said Sasha.
“No thanks, I have something to take care of this morning.” Replied Kitt.
I didn’t want Claw to stay at my house but I was his Alpha now. He had to carry out every command I gave him, even if he wants to or not. I approached Claw who was with Shadow and Bones, helping Tear to her feet.
“Hey claw,” he spun to face me. “Good fight, wanna spend the day at my house? Most of our pack is staying.”
“I will have to decline your offer. Luna has already asked the four of us to stay at her place. Thanks for the kindness… I thought the forest was freighted of mountain wolves.”
“Most of us are a little cautious when it comes to new wolves… but we are teammates now.” I reminded him.
“I’ll see you tomorrow for the mission briefing.” He said calmly. “But after the mission, we need a fight… no rules… no interference.”
“I look forward to it.” I lied.
He seemed pleased with my answer. I just hoped he didn’t take me seriously.
