[Chapter six]
~A new foe~
{Please ignore any spelling mistakes. This is a first draft.}
{{Trigger warning; Violence.}}
Chapter Six; A new foe
H'anui stirred early that morning, rolling over in her bed with a yawn. The woman rubbed at her sleep blured eyes and glanced at the clock, blinking away stray tears that had welled in her eyes when she yawned. She glanced over the red digital numbers and sighed. 6 AM. The pale haired woman shifted into a sitting postition, running a hand through her short hair before wobbling to her feet and doing an odd little dance across the cold floor to her closet, where she then slipped out of her golden silky nightgown and pulled on a pair of jeans and a tan color hoodie, before she pulled on a pair of white ankle socks. H'anui then stood and stretched, yawning once again before she started off out her door. The woman's room was downstairs by Rain's, so she was careful not to wake the girl as she crept into the kitchen and flicked on the kettle for coffee. H'anui then paced towards the fridge and pulled it open, tilting her head at the lack of the tinfoil covered plate that had been in there prior. She shrugged, thinking someone must have grown hungry throughout the night, before pulling out a package of bacon and a carton of egg's. Time to get started on breakfast. Having a pack full of hungry shapeshifters is never, ever a good thing.
The sound of heavy, tired seeming footsteps plodding down the stairs caused the woman to look up from the now sizzling bacon before her, and she grinned as Frost waddled into the room in a childlike manor, rubbing at her eyes. "Do I smell bacon?" She murmured sleepily, blinking open her eyes as she padded timidly into the kitchen and took a seat at the table. "That you do." H'anui chuckled, shaking her head a bit. The sound of another few sets of fotosteps thumping down the stairs made her shake her head a bit. Grazie bounded enegetically into the room, wearing a bright grin. The boys sandy hair had fallen into his face, hiding his ocean eyes now. "Food?" the boy barked loudly, making H'anui laugh aloud. "Sit down and wait for it to finish" She commanded gently, smiling as she heard the legs of a chair squeal against the ground as the boy took a seat. He was followd by another boy around nineteen, whilst Grazie was only fourteen, of whom sluggishly walked into the room and flopped over into a chair, laying his head down on the table. "Morning Cameron" H'anui chirped, and the ginger haired boy gaze an annoyed grunt and raised his emerald gaze. "It's too early for life" he said sulkily, making H'anui shake her head and laugh.
A call of her name from downstairs made Frost shoot up curiously, before the girl was off like a rocket down into the basement. H'anui laughed aloud as she went about flipping the egg's, and the two boys at the table merely sighed. Soon enough another set of footsteps could be heard thumping down stairs, but this time four feet rather than two. Spike sauntered clumsily into the room, sliding on the tile and stumbling into a chair leg with a loud thump. Everyone in the room laughed aloud at the pup's behavior as Spike struggled up onto a chair in his wolf form, before he sat himself down. Grazie offered a smile, tilting his head. "I still don't get why you're just as old as the others but you're in a pups body" he mused, making the pup raise his shoulders before letting them fall again in a shrug. He then wobbled up onto his back legs and placed the front two on the table, glancing curiously at the rather grouchy looking Cameron. He whined softly before sitting down again, turning his head towards H'anui. Grazie laughed and scratched the pup behind the ear gently, before his phone buzzed in his pocket and made him jump and give a girly squeak.
The blonde dug around in his pocket a moment before fishing out his cell, tilting his head a bit before giving a groan and putting it down on the table. H;anui looked back curiously, tilting her head a bit. "Who was it?" She cooed curiously, smirking deviously. "Just some annoying chick from school wondering why I'm never in town aside from school and the odd shopping trip" He complained, shaking his head a bit. H'anui let out a laugh, shaking her head a bit. "I still wonder why Timber even makes you guys go to school. Not like you'll need a job or anything, living on with the pack. We have tons of money put aside either way" She noted, nodding. "And who would be stupid enough to rob a pack of wolves?" She added teasingly as she rolled her eyes a bit, but she gave a squeal as the egg she had been flipping spun off the pan onto the ground. Spike let out a bark and lunged clumsily from the chair, slipping and sliding over tot he still hot egg and devouring it. H'anui shook her head and sighed, bopping his nose lightly. The pup whined in complaint before scittering back to the chair, leaping up onto it again before sitting down and licking his lips. H'anui sighed and cracked another egg into the pan.
Frost scampered down the stairs and jumped off the last, landing in a crouch with an amused smile as she straightened out, patting her legs gently as if to rid them of dust. She looked around curiously before padding over to the love seat, rolling over the back and flopping onto it curiously, staring at the couch before her with a wide grin. Timber lay there with a bandage on his head and a couple other bandages here and there, smiling back at her from under his mop of hair. "How are you little monster in disguise?" The man teased, giving a grin in the girls direction. Frost laughed a bit and shook her head, shrugging. "Pretty good, are you feeling any better?" She peeped happily, tilting her head at the man before her as he struggled into a sitting position. "Please, a little fight like that won't kill me" Timber chuckled, getting to his feet slowly and looking around. "I'm amusing they;re all upstairs drooling for food?" He inquired, making Frost laugh and give a nod as she rose to follow him up the stairs, at a slightly slower pace than him. As they arrived everyone turned and gave them a grin, and H'anui laughed a bit. "Feeling better I see. Take a seat breakfast will be done soon" She added after a moment, watching in an amused manor as the man made his way over to one of the vacant seats at the table and plopped down onto it, and Frost followed along as well and sat down on the windowsill beside him.
The whole group in the kitchen looked up as a very frazzled looking Mist padded into the kitchen, also in wolf form, and slipped on the tiles. The she-wolf with the dark pelt landed hard on her side, and didn't bother to get up. Cameron gaze a groan before getting up from where he sat to go help her, only to have Lee walk in behind her and shoot him a glare. He backed up a bit and sat back down, muttering a curse in the boys direction as he lifted Mist back to her paws. "Careful," Lee murmured silently, nudging her along once again as he walked in and sat himself down on the cold floor. Mist padded in slower than before, trying hard not to slip, before flopping down beside the boy and resting her head on his leg. He smiled and scratched behind her ears gently, before looking around. "Anyone seen Riu? I went to get him to apologize for a... Mishap last night and he wasn't sulking in his room, and he's not sulking here, so where could he be?" The others shrugged nonchalantly, but Timber's face grew rather worried. He breathed a sigh and shook his head, shrugging. "He's probably outside somewhere. You and Grazie should go look for him after." He murmured, before yet another of the pack mate's came thumping down the stairs.
Kaida swung around the corner and into the kitchen, looking around with lively hazel eyes at the pack members before her. Some of them curtly dipped their heads in greeting, and Grazie gave a large grin. "Kaida! Good morning! How did you sleep?" The blonde boy chirped delightedly, bounding up from his seat and approaching the alpha with bright blue eyes. Kaida yawned lazily and shrugged a bit, looking towards the bacon and grinning. "Decently. Riu was being dumb last night and Lee saved me. Blah blah all in all I got a few hours of sleep and now I really want that bacon" She concluded, nodding with a grin. That boy laughed and shook his head, grabbing her hand gently and tugging her towards the back door. "But first we gotta go on patrol! can I take her with me pleeeaaaase Timber!" Grazie whined in complaint, flashing the male a big grin. Timber shook his head and laughed, nibbling on the corners of a piece of toast that H'anui had just delivered to the table. "I see nothing wrong with it, but hurry now. Breakfeast will be ready soon, oh and take Lee with you. You can all look for Riu while you're gone." He commented with a grin, half laughing as Frost flashed him a pout.
Grazie grinned delightedly and pulled on his shoes, of which had been kicked to the side, before turning to Kaida and tilting his head. The girl pulled on her shoe's and offered a shy smile in the blonde's direction just as Lee approached the two of them, pulling on his shoe's now. The group then pushed out the door, sheilding their eyes at how bright it was outside. The sky was a soft blue color with cotton-candy clouds drifting lazily overhead, and a soft breeze stirred the tree's, but all in all it was wonderfully warm. Grazie started off through the dew-filled grass towards the treeline, Kaida on his heels and Lee trailing behind, before he stopped in his tracks. Grazie turned back to the pair behind him with a grin, before hurriedly shifting forms and lunging into the undergrowth with a delighted chorus of yips and playful growls. Kaida shook her head and laughed, changing forms as well and looking back to Lee. The boy had already changed and dashed past her after the pale brown brute that had took off. Kaida pinned back her ears a moment before slowly slipping into the treeline, pushing past branches of an overgrown spruce tree as she went along. The other two males had dashed ahead a bit, following after the flow of the creek, and as Kaida padded up to them she tilted her head curiously.
Grazie stood with a small trout flopping around in his maw, and Lee sat to the side with a very annoyed look. The pale brown wolf's eyes lit up happily as Kaida's sleek silver pelt was spotted not far away, and the brute padded towards her happily. As he approached Kaida tilted her head at him, and he flashed a fang-filled smile as he deposited the fish at her paws. "It's better than it looks, I promise" he reassured as the she-wolf bent down to sniff at the writhing creature, of which was desperate for air. Feeling a twinge of pity for the creature she lifted it into her maw again, padding over to the creek and dropping it into the chilly water carefully. Grazie looked rather confused, but Kaida merely let out a laugh and sat up. "Alright, so where are off to an-" She was cut off by the sound of branches rustling and clumsy, loud pawsteps thumping along. Lee's ears pivoted and a smile took over as Mist lunged through the tree's, shaking branches from her pelt in an annoyed manor. After a moment she dark she-wolf regained her composture and smiled at her alpha, wagging her tail delightedly. "Hey, hey Aliyah! Aliyah! Timber told me I could come!" She chimed happily, making Kaida roll her eyes. Grazie tilted his head a bit towards Kaida though, curious of the second name. "Mist it's Kaida now, my quote human name unquote does not matter anymore" Kaida reminded the girl, and Grazie laughed. Lee looked up curiously, a raven had perched just above his head and let out a cark. He shrugged off the feeling of danger that overcame him and got up with a grin, padding towards mist.
Mist rolled her eyes and gave a giggle as Lee approached, pressing his nose to her shoulder gently. Kaida rolled her icy eyes and giggled as well, shaking her head a bit. After the group had settled down from the unexpected new member, they all padded over and sat at the bank of the creek and looked around. "Alright, as I was saying, where to next?" Kaida offered to start coversation, and Grazie perked up considerably. He was a rather large brute, with pale brown with and darker brown paws(Aside from one, of which was white) with a cute white tail tip and beautiful ocean blue eyes. Kaida tilted her head at the male curiously, and he sucked in a breath. "Well, I don't really know the entire expanse of the territory but I know this really cool meadow not too far off with some rabbit mounds so it'd be cool if we could go there if you want I mean" He said hurriedly, before exhaling with a stupid grin. Kaida laughed aloud and shook her head, standing erect once again before nodding a bit. "Whats holding us back then?" Kaida mused, smirking as she bounded accross the creek swiftly, with Grazie on her heels. She slowed a bit and allowed the male to take the lead as he lunged through the branches, into the deeper parts of the forest. Kaida hovered back a moment, looking back to see Mist and Lee engrossed in a conversation. She shook her head and sigh, before lunging off through the branches loudly after Grazie.
Mist grinned as Lee complained about Riu and how dumb he had been acting recently. The girl gave a shrug and watched after Kaida as she dashed off, before tilting her head at Lee. "Shouldn't we go...?" She peeped silently, making the male look down at her curiously and give a throaty chuckle. "They won't miss us much, either way we should split up anyway so we can look for that stupid Riu. Anyway Mist... Before we do that... I kind of have something I need to tell you" The large brute murmured, looking down at his paws with a frown tugging at the edges of his lips. Mist tilted her head curiously, nudging his shoulder gently. "What is it? You can tell me!" She encouraged, smiling a bit as the male sucked in a breath.
"Remember what I said. Show no mercy. Remember what he did. Let the anger control your actions. You're one of us now, not them, and remember what they did to us... Your family" A hushed voice murmured to the tensed up shadow beside him. The other growled a bit, pinning back its ears with fierry golden eyes. "Yes, sir. I know what they did. And I will never forgive them. Nor will I let them get away with it. They pushed our family to the brink of death, now they shall know how it feels" Hissed the voice in return as it shifted through the shadows a bit, pushing slowly past branches of pine tree's trying to make as little noise as possible. His target came into view and he let out a soft growl, before lunging through the tree's and dashing up to the target, fangs barred and ready to attack. And win.
"L-Look Mist... I know we've only known eachother a few days but I really need to say that I- AGH" The male let out choking sound as he was overthrown and pinned on his back, a snarling raven male over him. "R-" He started, only to have the male snap down at his face and let out a viscious sounding snarl. Mist had shifted to her human form with wide eyes, and was backing up a bit fearfully. The raven colored male snapped down on the others chest, letting out a rumbling growl as the metallic taste of blood flooded his senses. Lee let out a pained whine before snapping down on the male's ear best he could. He managed to get a chunk off of it, but the brute above still wouldn't release his hold on him. Lee writhed and snapped down on anything he could manage to, giving a pained wail as the other brute snapped down on his front leg before leaping backwards gracefully landing on his paws. Lee stumbled upright, pinning back his ears and letting out a snarl. "What the HELL is wrong with you!" He shrieked, just as the male lunged a seond time. He managed to dodge the attack and snap down on the other's shoulder, scrunching up his nose at the taste of blood. Mist hurriedly switched forms and let out a snarl, clenching her muscles and preparing to leap at the intruder. She lunged.
The lunge was cut short as she was thrown to the side, pinned underneath a cackling brute. "Not now dear. Let him play" Purred the voice, making Mist recoil in disgust. She didn't recognize either of these wolves, one looked similar to Riu but the eyes. They had hints of crimson ebbing from the pupil, and Riu was not like that. Also the fur, it was thick and matted with dirt. Riu wouldn't allow his fur to get to such a state, he was too prissy in the girls opinion. The male above her smirked deviously as Riu gave a throaty growl, before lunging again and snapping down on the males side. Lee let out a paned shriek once again as he felt his side being torn into by fangs, and he hurriedly ripped away. A bad choice on his account, for the raven male was not letting go so the hunk of flesh he had been clinging too remained with him when Lee ripped away. The male dropped the mass of fur, blood and flesh before snarling. Lee lunged at him in return, snapping down on his lower jaw and shaking around best he could in the awkward position. The other brute threw him off before leaping onto him, pinning him a second time. A clash of fangs and a pained whine was heard, and Mist's ears pivoted as she very slowly turned to look in the direction the sound had come from.
Kaida followed Grazie happily, dashing along through the undergrowth without a known care in the world. The two were far from Lee and Mist now, as they neared a meadow. Kaida parted her maw and drank in the scents around her, smiling faintly at the scent of rabbit not far off at all. Grazie halted suddenly with wide eyes, summoning her to his side with a flick of his tail. Kaida dropped into a crouch and followed curiously, hovering beside him and gaping at the sight before them. A moose lay in the grass before them, sound asleep with its antlered head lowered. The bulky mass of dark brown fur slept soundly, unaware of the two wolves watching it from the undergrowth not far off. Kaida smirked at Grazie, and he her, before humming in thought. "Wanna ty and run past it?" Grazie murmured in a hushed tone, biting back a laugh. Kaida's eyes lit up and she smirked, nodding a bit. "Sounds dangerous, let's do it" She whispered in return, watching curiously as Grazie crept from the tree's before breaking into a wild sprint, dashing past the creature delightedly. Kaida then crept from the tree's aswell, lunging forward at a run. She tripped. The large herbivor flicked open an eye and snorted, jumping clumsily to its feet and letting out an irritated snort. The she-wolf hurriedly gathered herself and lunged out of the way just as the animal charged, and she kept running after that with Grazie on her heels.
After running for a while the two broke noisily into a clearing, and Kaida grinned as a frightened rabbit lunged into its burrow. She flopped over and rolled lazily to her side, panting a bit as she looked towarda Grazie of whom also looked pretty tired. The pale brute laughed a bit, shaking his head. "That was great" He murmured silently, turning to look at Kaida curiously. The girl had switched to her human form and rolled over onto her stomach, still breathing heavily. "It was!" She purred happily, half laughing as the boy switched forms as well. The two then sat up and Kaida looked around, smirking. "It's pretty here. Also Grazie, why haven't I seen you around? I mean I've been here...There? Four? I don't even know. I've been here a few days and I only seen you when I won that dumb fight!" kaida exclaimed, throwing her hands up and laughing. The boy gave a shy smile, wringing his hands nervously. "I-I was kind of nervous to talk to you..." He admitted sheepishly, offering a dorky grin in her direction. "What? Why!" Kaida yelped in surprise, turning to the boy with wide eyes. "Well uh... You see you werent in the pack so I was kind of nervous about talking to you and all. Stranger danger y'know?" He peeped islently, making Kaida laugh aloud and shake her head. "You're so weird" kaida cooed silently, before staggering upright and turning towards the meadow. "So you up for a game?" She purred happily, before switching forms and bounding off.
Mist felt tears prick her eyes at the sight before her. The black brute's monstrous fangs were coated in a thick, dripping layer of crimson red blood, and his maw was coated in the thick substance as well. Below him lay Lee, gasping for breath. With fatal wounds on his throat. The brute had bit down onto his windpipe, and now he lay gasping for the air he wouldn't get. Mist let out a strangled sob as she writhed around, and the sandy wolf above her let her up as she struggled towards the boy, collapsing beside him. "Lets go" The elder male called to the black brute, and he gave a nod and padded off with the other through the tree's, leaving a sobbing mist crouched beside a bloodied mess of fur that was entitled Lee. "M-Mist" Came a strangled voice, and the girl looked down to the boy and his beautiful blue eyes. He had switched to his human form at this point, for he prefered to pass in a natural state rather than his beastly canine state. The girl leaned a bit closer to him, sucking in a shortbreath and biting her lip. "Y-Yes" She squeaked silently towards the dying boy, his raven locks splayed messily in his face and blood smeared on his cheeks. "I-I wanted to sa-" He was cut off as he let out a raspy cough, flinching painfully. "T-That I love you...Mist I love you" the boy wheezed out, sucking in a sharp breath. Mist fell deadly silent with wide eyes, leaning a bit closer to the boy again as if she had heard wrong. With all the strength he could muster up Lee leaned forward, planting a bloodied kiss on the girls lips before laying back with a weak smile, staring up to the clouds. "I-I.." Mist choked out, tears pooling in her eyes once again. "I love you too! Please dont die! I don't care how long we've known eachother!" The girl wailed in distress, brushing the boys hair from his face.
"I gotta..Go... Love you..." The boy murmured silently, his voice sounding strangled as his eyelids fluttered closed. The male fell limp with his same faint smile, and his breathing slowed to a stop. Mist slowly lowered his head to the ground fully and sat back, trying to rub the warm tears from her eyes to no avail. She buried her face in her hands and let out a choking sob and allowing the tears to flow freely, her ebony hair falling messily into her face as she pressed herself against the base of a tree, her body raking with sobs at this point. A laugh to her left caused the girl to look up, searching blindly for the cause of the raspy noice. She rubbed at her blurred eyes and flinched at the sight of the same black wolf that had killed Lee, and she went rigid. "You're quite pathetic. I bet you dont even recognize me" Growled a familiar voice, making Mist blink back tears and bite her lip. "G-Go away Riu" Choked the girl, too upset to care at the moment. "Whatever you say mutt" The boy huffed, shrugging a bit as he switched forms and turned on his heel. "But take this as a warning, and a farewell gift. I won't be back, and don't try to find me" Hissed the boy between clenched teeth, before he started off through the tree's again. Mist fell back against the tree and tangled her fingers into her hair, sighing silently as she fought back another surge of tears.
Kaida and Grazie were oblivious to the dangers that were beginning to unfold. But Timber felt the familiar gut feeling of terror, and he knew that something was very, very wrong. And that's why he sent out H'anui to find the children. The woman had given a sigh, before stepping barefoot out the backdoor and running a hand through her choppy hair. "It's been a while since Ive done this" She murmured silently, before in her place stood a sleek golden furred wolf, with beautiful seafoam green eyes. The she wolf tilted her head skyward and parted her maw, releasing a lengthy melodious howl. The hunt was on. Yet her findings would be anything BUT pleasant.