by Cloe Cullen
"It is another hunt, but this time we aren’t looking for food."
Darius eyed him. "What then? Are we hunting a criminal? A thief?"
Remus' smile dampened. "Something similar. A few shifters are missing. A group of two or three, I'm not exactly sure of the number. But what we do know is that the group was hunting in the east, just this side of the border. They haven't been back for a few days now, so my father put me in charge of finding them."
Darius crossed his arms. "And you want me along to help...is that really a good idea? I don't think your Alpha father would want me to take any of the credit for finding the shifters."
Gavriel placed a hand on Darius' shoulder and leaned into his lean. "Don't think about Ulrick. If he tries anything after learning Remus put you on the team, he'll have to go through me first."
Darius growled in annoyance. "I don't need you to protect me."
"No, you need my word," Remus said. "My father trusts me. He may hate your guts, for whatever reason I still can't place my finger on, but I certainly know how capable you are. You're the best tracker we have in the clan, and you're the best chance we have of finding those missing wolves. You help us, and I'm sure your reputation will improve among the clan."
Darius glanced once again at the other shifters standing further back. Their glares softened slightly, but none would look at Darius directly. He looked to Gavriel, and his father nodded. Darius sighed. "Fine, but I won't take credit if we find them."
"If you won't take it willingly, I'll force you to take it." Remus grinned like a fool, making Darius smile. "If anything, I'm doing this for Nyssa. The more shifters like you, the more chance she'll have of getting approval for her eventual marriage to you."
Darius rolled his eyes. "Come on, let's go."
Remus nodded to his four shifters, and they went on ahead. Remus went after them, and Darius made to follow, but his father clutched his arm.
"What do you want, Gavriel? If you haven't noticed, I kind of need to leave now."
Gavriel bore his gaze into Darius. "Just don't go past the border, whatever you do, okay?"
"What makes you think I will? Remus said-"
"I know what Remus said," Gavriel sighed. "Please, just stay away. Nothing good will come from crossing. If the missing wolves crossed the river, then it's better to let their corpses rot than to try and bring them back. Do you understand?"
"But-"
Gavriel's grip tightened. "Do you understand?"
Darius grunted but nodded.
"Good. Now go do me proud."
Darius gave Gavriel a quizzical look before he took off to catch up to Remus. His home disappeared behind him as he ran to catch up.
Gavriel's tone rattled him. Every wolf shifter knows it's practically suicide to cross the border into cat territory, so then why did Gavriel feel the need to remind Darius? What did his tone mean?
Did it possibly have something to do with his mother?
Suddenly the urge to start this hunt pumped adrenaline into his veins, and Darius rushed to find Remus and the others just coming up on Gray Creek.
The other four shifters snarled in annoyance at the sight of Darius, but Remus ignored them. "What took you so long?" Remus asked when Darius fell in line. "I thought you might have changed your mind and abandoned us."
"Gavriel just warned me not to cross the border. Nothing important."
Remus raised a brow. "It's common knowledge not to cross."
"I know. That's what I told him."
"Oh well, doesn't matter. Come on, let's go."
***
The group had to cross Gray Creek to begin their hunt. Once on the other side, the group ripped off their clothes and stored them in rabbit hide satchels under a log near the Archway to Gray Creek, and shifted into their wolf forms.
Darius towered above the rest with his gray coat and massive hind legs, but Remus stood out due to his blonde hair. The other four growled low at Darius, but Remus barked for Darius and the rest to try and catch a scent, so they all put their noses to the ground and began to sniff pacing here and there. One of the other four wolves caught the scent first, yapping in delight, and racing off. They bounded after the wolf shifter.
For a few minutes, the group continued straight east, the pack of wolves moving quickly among the trees of the Oldwood and dipping into and out of thickets and brush. Any animals they came across scampered off in fear, and a few of the other wolves even drooled at the thought of catching a sweet snack. Remus yapped at them to stay focused. Eventually, the first wolf lost the trail, and circled a single large tree, whimpering when he couldn't find the scent again.
The pack began to search once again, and eventually, Darius found the trail, the scent of two wolves...and something else. He couldn't quite place the third scent. Remus came over and nudged Darius aside, sniffing and recoiling in as if he were sprayed by a skunk, and exchanged a look with Darius.
One of the other wolves informed the others with a bark that he also picked up the scent. The rest of the pack remained silent while Remus thought. Finally, he decided and gave instructions with a few grunts and barks. Remus, Darius and one other would follow Darius' trail, while the other three went after the different scent.
The group splintered and left in their directions.
Darius led Remus and the other wolf further east, keeping with the trails for hours on end until finally, they came close to the border river that separated the Pack's lands and the Pride's lands.
The river was loud, gushing through the landscape, and the scents began to become muddled with the smell of cats. Remus and the other wolf became cautious, even growling low the closer they came, but Darius remained silent. They slowed to allow Darius to take his time following the trail, and Darius' nose took them right to the river.
All three panted as they stood, looking across the river, wary for whatever might be on the other side.
Darius shifted to his human form first, crouching naked next to the river, touching the ground and feeling the dirt and wood chips that littered the ground. A number of paw prints lead straight into the river.
Darius heard the other two shift into their human forms and waited for Remus to look over his shoulder.
"Without a doubt," Darius said. "The two we are looking for crossed the river." He pointed to the track marks. "Look at the distance between the prints. It's chaotic as if they were running from something."
Remus frowned. "They were being pursued? But who would hunt our people on our side of the river?"
The other shifter came up. "Maybe the Pride nabbed our people and dragged them across the river." He spat on the ground after speaking, as if merely mentioning the Pride would poison him.
"If that were true, there'd be larger marks across a wider area. There are only prints."
The other shifter snarled at Darius, but Remus continued Darius' thought. "Besides, why would the Pride cross the border? Why would they kidnap our people and just kill them outright?" Remus scratched his head. "But if it wasn't the Pride, then who would force our people to cross the border into cat territory?"
The idea hit both Darius and Remus at the same time and they glanced at each other, their eyes wide.
"Changelings…" Darius whispered as if the name was too heavy for his voice to carry.
"They're rumors, nothing more. This was the work of the Pride," the other shifter said.
Darius stood. "There is another scent, but we can't say for sure it was the Pride that attacked our people."
"Do we even know if they were attacked?" Remus interjected. "We haven't seen any signs of that. Just some chaotic pawprints."
"They were running from someone or something. Either way, it doesn't change the fact that they crossed to a place no sane wolf shifter would ever go. Whatever chased them, it must have been spooked them pretty badly."
Remus crossed his arms and frowned, grunting in annoyance. The other shifter kicked the ground in frustration. Darius stared at the pawprints l
eading into the water. Darius stared at the other bank, spying a few prints among the grass.
Nothing good will come from crossing. If the missing wolves crossed the river, then it's better to let their corpses rot than to try and bring them back.
Nothing good, huh?
Do you understand?
"I understand plenty…"
"What did you say?" Remus said, swiveling back to face Darius.
Darius stared back at his friend, the concern on Remus' face getting to Darius. Remus was an honest shifter, and Darius knew not finding the two shifters would eat at the Alpha's son. It was his responsibility after all.
"I'll go across and continue the search," Darius suddenly announced. "Remus, go back and help the others search for the other shifter."
Remus and the other shifter stared incredulously at Darius. "Excuse me?"
The other shifter grinned. "That's the best idea I've heard all day. That's right, go over there, get yourself killed. That'll do us all a favor."
Remus shot the other shifter a look and growled loudly, and immediately the other shifter backed away, hanging his head. Remus turned back to Darius. "No, it's a terrible idea. You can't go over, Dare, it's suicide. Wolves don't hunt alone."
"But I do," Darius countered. "I'm the most capable tracker here, and I'm not loud or mangy like the rest of you." Darius eyed the other shifter. "No disrespect. Besides…"
Maybe I'll find a hint about my mother on the other side…
"Besides what?" Remus glared at Darius. When Darius didn't answer, Remus continued. "You'll die. Alone."
"Then your father, our glorious Alpha, will be happy." Remus didn't look convinced at Darius’ comment. "Please, Remus, I'm the best choice for this. I'll find the other two, and either bring them back alive or come back and report their deaths. I won't be caught unless I want to be."
Remus stayed still as a statue while he thought it over. The other shifter slowly straightened up, unsure of whether to speak or not.
Eventually, Remus sighed and nodded. "Fine. I'll go back and inform my father of the status of this investigation. I'll let you go, but you need to promise me you'll come back in one piece. If not for me, then for your father and Nyssa. Do you understand me?"
"Loud and clear."
Remus grunted, took one last look at Darius, and then nodded at the other shifter. "Good luck, Darius."
They both shifted to their wolf forms, and Remus bounded away. Darius swore the other wolf grinned at him before he left. Finally, Darius was alone at the border, the rushing river drowning out any other sound. Darius stared across the bank once more, shifted to his wolf form, and carefully crossed the river. The water dampened his fur, but once on the other side, he shook every last drop free.
This time, Darius looked back across the river from whence he came. No longer did Darius the wolf shifter stand in Pack territory. He was standing in foreign land.
Just don't go past the border, whatever you do, okay? Please, just stay away.
Darius licked his lips and turned to face the eastern part of the Oldwood, staring at trees owned by the cat clan. He took a moment to take it all in, and then took his first step, sniffing to pick up the trail.
Chapter Six: Amara
Amara sighed as she plucked another flower.
When she agreed to help Sarai pick up herbs for the wounded and sick, she didn't realize how boring it would be. Sure, Amara didn't exactly have a plan outside of exploring the Oldwood, but now she had to specifically look out for the breeds of flora Sarai had described to her.
Traversing the Oldwood to find various herbs was beginning to become cumbersome. Amara's hide satchel was already more than half full now, and the flowers she added only weighed the bag down even more. Even in her cougar form, gallivanting between the trees and over the odd boulder began to annoy her. She took more and more breaks, and the breaks became longer.
Amara wanted to contribute to the clan, but she wanted to contribute in a way that would stand out. The sooner her people recognized her efforts, the sooner she'd earn the kind of respect her father commanded. But she wouldn't stand out collecting flowers.
Amara stopped for a drink by a small pond, not bothering to change into her human form. She dropped her bag on the bank and gingerly leaned down, licking the water and soothing her thirst.
Something felt off, though, so Amara stopped her drinking and just listened. Nothing moved, the only sound coming from the water that dripped from her chin to the pond, making soft ripples on the water's surface. It was odd. Normally birds would inhabit the treetops and sing to each other when she took walks in the Oldwood, and other animals would graze not too far from her at all times.
She stayed unmoving for another minute, making sure no sound got past her ears. Once she was sure, she straightened up, smelling the air. Her sense of smell wasn't as good as her hearing or sight, but even so, if an animal were within a certain distance, she'd know it, and yet...nothing. Except... there was the hint of a scent, a smell which wasn’t like anything she'd know off the top of her head.
Amara grew restless, her heart picking up the pace. Curiosity got the better of her, and she began to slowly move in the direction of the smell. Listening close as she stalked the Oldwood, a myriad of strange sounds hit her, causing her to recoil in intrigue. Low growls and heavy footfalls, careful like a cat but too heavy to be like any other cat shifter Amara knew.
What the hell was going on? The closer she got, the more convinced Amara became that whatever creature was giving her this strange feeling, it was nothing local. It reeked of familiar yet distant lands.
To get a better sight advantage, Amara scaled a tree, making her way onto a branch and gradually leaping to the next. She continued to stealthily climb from branch to branch, from tree to tree, until she got close enough to peer out at the creature infecting her forest. Amara grew tense, the anticipation nearly killing her. Her heart pounded, wondering what would pass beneath her. She watched carefully as the creature came into view, her eyes wide and her body stiff and still. Her tail wrapped around the branch she crouched upon.
Eventually, the creature stomped on under her, and Amara caught her breath. A wolf, a giant one, with gray fur and dazzling dark green eyes. Amara's tail unwrapped itself and flicked slowly from side to side as she watched with awe as the massive beast strolled by. It walked slowly, carefully, deliberate with every step. Beyond that, it sniffed the ground, stopping just under Amara to get its bearing.
Suddenly, the realization hit her. Amara, for the first time ever, was seeing a live member of the Pack. It took a few more moments for her catlike curiosity to fade into sudden vexation and rage.
A wolf shifter? A member of the Pack? Here, in the Pride's territory? Amara couldn't get over the idea that a wolf was cocky enough to wander past the border that separated the two territories. The Pride would not tolerate this act of brazen arrogance.
Amara licked her lips, readying herself.
There was an opportunity before her. It was as if mother nature had answered Amara's prayers. A leader earned respect by protecting her people, that's what her father had taught her. Surely this wolf meant harm upon her people.
But what if there more nearby? Wolves stayed in packs, didn't they? Amara glanced in every direction listening carefully, but she couldn't make out any others besides the lone wolf before her.
This was her chance!
But should she go for help? Alert others so they could team up against this beast?
Amara took her stance, awaiting the perfect moment to strike. She'd never truly fought for her life before, but now was as good a time as any to learn.
The wolf began to move again, loping away. Amara, panicking slightly, misplaced her step and tripped over herself, tumbling, hissing from the tree branch. She fell on her side, shrieking at the wave of pain that swelled her body. Struggling to stand, Amara met the gaze of the gray wolf, who stood only a dozen feet away, watching her closely. Caught off guard, Amara s
crambled back to her feet and hissed at the wolf, using the power of her hind legs to pounce on the wolf before it realized Amara's intent. The wolf howled in shock and pain as Amara landed on its back and began to slash and chew at its back. The wolf, using its pure strength, threw itself against a tree, sending Amara to the ground.
Amara jumped to her feet and screamed, her adrenaline pumping, but the wolf stared her down, rearing up and howling so loud that the force from its howl pushed Amara back a few feet. Surprised, Amara didn't react in time to move out of the way of the wolf barreling towards her. The beast tackled her, yapping and barking, clamping its jaws down on Amara's front leg. Amara let a yelp of pain escape her lungs, but soon enough began to batter the wolf's head. The wolf whimpered but didn't let go, thrashing Amara around, smacking her against endless trees and throwing her once more to the ground. The wolf howled again, the sound rattling her bones. Fear raced to her mind, scaring Amara so severely she jerked backward. Blood trickled from her wound.
To her surprise the wolf stayed its ground, panting and growling at Amara. Amara stood slowly, limping slightly, but she never took her eyes off the wolf. Amara trembled slightly. She didn't expect this wolf to be so strong.
She hissed at the wolf, who growled low, and turned its back to her, attempting to leave.
Another wave of rage injected itself into Amara's bloodstream. He was turning his back to her? Amara lost all sense of her condition, rising to her feet and darting to the wolf without paying mind to her wounded leg. The wolf, not expecting Amara to continue the fight, didn't turn quick enough and found Amara once again crawling on his back. This time she slashed harder and faster, making sure to keep herself rooted firmly on the wolf's back. The wolf thrashed around again, but when it aimed to smash Amara against a tree once more, Amara jumped off at the last second.
The wolf slammed into the tree so hard that the trunk cracked and broke, the tall tree collapsing forward. Both Amara and the wolf dodged to either side, just barely missing being squashed by the Oldwood.