This is not how she expected it to go. “Fine a war it is then!” She shouted to Warclaw as he walked away. Whilst laughing to himself quietly, he shook his head. ‘If it is a war they want then it shall be a war that they get! By the high Alpha, she does not know what is coming their way!’ Warclaw thought to himself. Stopping he looked back around to see that Wibeke had started running to catch up with the others. Smiling, he was quite pleased with the outcome. It was about time that there was a war. It wouldn’t exactly last long either. There weren’t many of them. Warclaw turned around and headed back towards the lighthouse. Stepping inside, he felt a wave of relief take over his body. He loved it and being in the lighthouse again was amazing. Although the lighthouse had been smashed down into the ground, it still felt like home!
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Wibeke had caught Will and Wren up, about five minutes later. “Well?” Will asked Wibeke.
“Well what?” Wibeke asked.
“What did he say?” Will asked again.
“Nothing that is of concern” Wibeke plainly stated.
“Wibeke spit it out. What did he say? I can tell it is not good by the look on your face!”
“Fine!” She sighed. “Warclaw wants a war. I said to him that if he didn’t give it to us then we would fight him for it. And now that’s exactly what he wants us to do! The trouble is I think that’s what he wanted all along.” Her voice had quickened up pace as she spoke.
“War?” Wren suddenly spoke up. “All the things you could say, and you say WAR! Wibeke we don’t have enough wolves to fight him!” Wren shouted at Wibeke.
“You weren’t exactly helping back there, were you? What were you thinking?!” Wibeke had started to shout at Wren. She was disappointed. What had made him like that? “I don’t know! I was trying to protect you. I couldn’t help it! Warclaw said I was out of your league. I believed him. I wanted to prove that I wasn’t out of your league!” Wren shouted and then sighed. Lowering his head he started walking forward. Wibeke had stopped walking. “You really think that? That I don’t love you and that you are out of my league?” Wibeke asked concerned.
“What does it matter if I think that?” Wren huffed.
“Because...” Wibeke fell silent. Wren turned around to face her.
“Because what?” He asked.
“Because...” She paused. “Because I always thought that you were out of my league! I always thought that you’d never love me.” Wren looked at her with soggy eyes. He smiled at her before walking over to her and hugging her closely. “How could you ever think that?” He asked calmly and sweetly. “I don’t know, the same way you thought that I was out of your league.” Wibeke sighed.
“Well, now we know what we both think.” He stopped talking and pressed his nose against hers. Wibeke felt her heart flutter and without telling herself to, she pressed her nose firmly against his. The world stopped around them. The wind rushed around them, ruffling their fur. For at least a moment in time, they could forget about their troubles and live for the moment.
When they parted, they smiled at each other. Walking side by side, they headed back to the pack with Will leading the way.
Chapter 8: Treasure.
The sea rustled quietly in the background and the wind whistled with a high pitch that could pierce your eardrum. The wind beat down upon the trees, moving the leaves roughly. The wind ruffled each of the pack member’s fur, as they waited to hear from Wibeke what would be happening next in their lives. They had waited for hours now and the waiting was killing them.
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It was getting late. The sun was moving down behind the ocean and the moon had taken its place in the night sky. The wind was as cold as ice. The sky was dark and full of clouds that had no control of where they went. There were hints of stars that were up above the misty clouds but you could only faintly see them. The sea was restless and could be heard faintly in the background. Wibeke, Will and Wren could hear it faintly. They were near the den now. They looked back towards where the lighthouse and Warclaw had been, wondering if he had followed them. But Warclaw hadn’t. It was just their imagination playing tricks on them.
They carried on walking towards the den. The tree’s parted and opened out to a vast area of space that had a few trees and a small amount of vegetation. It was quiet. It was a peaceful quiet. Wibeke waited for Waya to come out of the cave and ask them what had happened, but he didn’t. He was gone like all of the other great wolves that had been Alpha to the pack. She was sure that the pack was cursed, as nothing good ever happened to the pack or when something good did happen, it never lasted very long
Looking back out towards the middle of the den, she noticed all of the eager faces, looking to see if she had accomplished anything by going to Warclaw. But by her reckoning she hadn’t done much good. She had just made the situation ten times worse. Looking at their faces, she didn’t want to tell them the disheartening news but she knew that she had to, especially as it was coming down to war. It was the only way to get them on her side and ready to fight the biggest battle the pack has ever faced!
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Walking down the long inside of the lighthouse, Warclaw noticed that the door to the darkened room had been shattered to pieces. He walked inside but he had to walk on the wall due to the floor becoming the wall. Jumping over the smashed window, he remembered how bad that the storm had been and what had happened on that fateful day. And that day had only been a few weeks ago. ‘How time flies, when you are having fun!’ Warclaw chuckled to himself. He could remember that day so clearly that when Warclaw closed his eyes he could see it in front of him. That day would be a day that he would never be able to forget.
Looking back towards the way he was heading, he noticed that the chest that his treasure was in had disappeared. It had simply vanished into thin air. Warclaw took steps closer to where the treasure had once been in its chest. But it was not there, in fact there was no sign of it. There was no trace of it. Warclaw's heart started to pound in his chest. "Where is it?!" Warclaw panicked. His head was pounding. 'Why now? Why couldn't it have happened before the threatening, not after?' He stopped. In his head, the cogs started to turn and he started to realise who had taken it. 'Wibeke!' He spat. He continued to search through the lighthouse, to see if it had fallen into another part of it. There was no sign of it anywhere. Warclaw was searching frantically. There was no sign of it anywhere. His heart raced in his chest.
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There was no sound in the world. It was peacefully quiet. The sky was dark and the stars were out in full, shinning down into the den. It had turned late night when Wibeke had finally told the pack about the war that was going to happen between Warclaw and them. There was a cool breeze in the air. The tree’s slowly moved in the wind, making them drowsy. The breeze ruffled calmly through Wibeke’s fur. It was calm, and it relaxed her after everything that had happened. It also took her mind off of the war that was coming soon.
All the pack members were fast asleep, except for Wibeke. Wibeke was sitting on the shiny grey rock that was near the entrance of the cave. Looking over the members of the pack, she thought back to what had happened that day. How she had created the problem with her and Warclaw and now the pack had got involved. This was not what she had planned at all. Getting the pack involved in this mess was the last thing she wanted. Wibeke knew that this was going to be the end of the pack but she had to do it, she just had too. Looking away from the pack, she looked up to the night sky and the bright yellow stars belted their colours out towards her. Wibeke sat thinking about what would happen if the pack didn’t get more wolves to help, but she knew that the inevitable was going to happen sooner or later. It was a chest of who was going to make the first move. And she had made that move first and it was not for the better.
As she was staring up into the sky, Wibeke heard some-wolf walk up behind her. Turning her head, she saw that it was Wren. He looked kindly at her. Wren wondered what s
he was doing up at this hour. Smiling briefly at Wren, her eyes gave away much more than she could’ve hoped. Moving to sit beside her, Wren spoke softly “Wibeke, I know you are worried with what and that you think that it was all down to you. But it’s not. So please don’t feel like you have to make it right. We are only few but we are strong when united together. I know you don’t think that we will beat Warclaw and that our lives will not get better, but you have to believe in us. No matter what Warclaw decides to do!” Wren felt much pride after he had finished his speech. He sat beside her and looked into her eyes. Looking back into Wren’s silver grey eyes, Wibeke could tell how proud he was of her and of his speech. “Wibeke.”Wren paused, as they looked intently into each other’s eyes. “Yes Wren?” She simply replied.
“You know that I love you and that I will always support you. But I cannot do that when you are keeping things from me.” Wren had worked out that she was planning something. “You know what happened the last time you didn’t tell me what you were doing.” He continued. Wibeke looked at him with curiosity but knew deep down what he was on about. “You went alone to see Warclaw and then look what happened! You and I fell out and I went crazy!” Wren had now voiced his concern but it was unlikely that she would listen. He was about to get up and leave, when Wibeke spoke up. “Wren. It had nothing to do with you. It has nothing to do with the pack. I feel that this is what my destiny is. I can feel it. I know and understand the concern that you have for me but this is something I need to do for me.” He stopped walking and turned round. Wren’s voice was soft but still with some force. “Fine. If it is what you want then, know that I will always support you all the way. But I cannot always be there to help you in times of need. But I will try to be there.” Before walking away, he sighed and pressed his nose against her nose. Their love was strong. But was it strong enough to with stand Warclaw?
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Warclaw was livid. His treasure was missing and he couldn’t do anything. He knew it was down to one wolf and one wolf only. Wibeke. Making his way out of the lighthouse, he had decided to make a grand entrance to the pack. Warclaw started to walk back down the beach towards the forest. “Wibeke! I’m going to get you for doing this to me!” He spat, saliva going everywhere. Angry did not cover how he felt. Warclaw’s stance was intimidating, and the look on his face was frightening. Being enraged was Warclaw’s natural ways of dealing with things. Once he was enraged, look out! Soon Wibeke was going to feel the full force of it.
The sky was black and it seemed as black as Warclaw’s heart right now. There were a few clouds in the sky that would often block out the moon. This was a dark night, and it was going to get darker by the hour. Warclaw was starting to run towards the forest now. With his heart racing, Warclaw’s running speed quickened. All he could think about was getting her to give his treasure back. The forest was getting nearer and nearer.
As Warclaw got into the forest, all the birds flew up into the sky, as if terrified of Warclaw. With each paw stepping in front of one another, more birds took to the air. If Wibeke didn’t see this then she would never escape Warclaw and his wrath.
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Wibeke sensed that something was wrong. She looked towards where the birds were flying away and into the sky. More and more flew up and out of the trees into the sky. But whatever was making those birds fly into the air, was heading straight towards her. Instantly she knew what was heading her way at such a fast pace. ‘Warclaw!’ she thought. Warclaw’s element of surprise had been wiped clear. However Wibeke chose not to run, but to face him. He was outnumbered. She would have to call every-wolf together immediately. Starting to howl, she could hear the pack members rush to where she was.
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Warclaw could hear the howl that was coming from Wibeke. He knew that she was calling every-wolf together but Warclaw kept running towards the den. Knowing that he was out numbered, he had dismissed any idea of getting Wibeke on her own, away from the pack. The ambush idea hadn’t exactly worked out nor would it ever now that Wibeke knew he was coming. His adrenaline was pumping through his body. Not wanting to stop now, he kept running towards Wibeke. With his heart racing in his chest, he couldn’t think straight. Anger was his only feeling and his only thought. Now the distance was closing between them. His heart rate was more enraged. Warclaw was going to settle this once and for all.
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All the pack members were together, wondering why they had all been summoned. There was quiet talk between them. Wibeke walked out onto the rock and spoke with a clear voice. “Warclaw is heading our way now with haste. We must protect ourselves. Put the young somewhere safe. We must fight!” There was gasping in the crowd. This was no shock that Warclaw was coming, but for him to come this quickly was a shock. The wolves ran in different directions finding their young and hiding them.
Wibeke had turned round to talk to Wren when she saw Warclaw come running up behind him. “Wren MOVE!” She shouted. Wren looked behind him and saw Warclaw. Diving out of the way, he just missed the jaws of Warclaw. Wibeke started walking backwards, trying to get some distance between them. With Warclaw not stopping, his adrenaline and rage had reached its peak. “YOU!” Warclaw howled at Wibeke whilst still running at her. Wibeke stopped walking backwards and decided it was best to find out why he was so enraged at her; she started to walk forward, towards him.
Warclaw slowed down as he had noticed that Wibeke had started to walk towards him. “Yes me.” Wibeke finally answered sarcastically.
“Where is it?” Warclaw shouted as he came to a halt.
“Where is what?” Wibeke asked confused.
“You know EXACTLY what! Where is the Atlas Crystal? Tell me where it is!” Warclaw growled again. Unable to believe what she was being accused of, she started stuttering. “I…I…I don’t know where that damn crystal is! Why…why…why would I… why the hell would I have it? I was there the whole time remember!” Her eyes had darted around, looking for help.
“Well you must know who must’ve taken it!” Warclaw had started to realise his mistake but he was sure that she at least knew who had taken the Atlas Crystal.
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The Atlas Crystal. The crystal of mystery. Warclaw’s crystal. This was what he possessed in that old lighthouse and what he protected with his life. Like Warclaw had said, it didn’t corrode in water; it was small, yet powerful beyond comprehension. The crystal would fit inside the palm of your hand. The crystal would change shape and colour; it would never stay the same shape and colour for more than a few minutes if it was in danger. The crystal was very mystical, yet it held no secrets. Warclaw on the other hand, was a different story.
Warclaw had always believed that he had the magical powers but the crystal had been using him as a life source to do its evil. The crystal had given him the power when he was a young wolf. Warclaw had always thought that he had inherited it from his father but the Atlas Crystal had in fact given it to him. His father had brought the crystal back to his old pack. It was if the crystal had chosen Warclaw. Power had started to flow through his veins. It was like a life dependant drug to him. He wouldn’t and couldn’t live long without it. All the wolves from the pack Warclaw was born in, had all been killed by him; including his parents. He couldn’t control his power. Not at the age he was given it.
Warclaw had had an argument with his parents and out of nowhere there had come a blast. Warclaw had looked around to find that every-wolf was dead. The blast had killed them all. Warclaw knew then that he had to hide the crystal from every-wolf. Knowing this, Warclaw used his powers to create wars between packs that had got wind of where the crystal was. When two packs would come at a time, he got them to fight each other, making sure that none of them would survive. The crystal was too dangerous for any-wolf to use. Warclaw now had complete control over it and only he knows how to use it safely (that was after many trials). Although to all the other wolves he seemed evil and just fought bec
ause he wanted too, but Warclaw was protecting not only the crystal but the lives of all the other wolves. But now the Atlas Crystal had disappeared. Warclaw had sensed that the end was nigh.
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Other pack members had started to arrive to where Warclaw and Wibeke were. They had started to surround them. Wren came running to Wibeke’s side. Looking around him, Warclaw saw that all the pack members had surrounded him. They had also started to head towards him. Warclaw realised that it was time to back off and go back into the forest. It was better to fight another day and come back with the Atlas Crystal. They could count on that. “You better watch your back!” Warclaw growled, before walking back off into the forest.
Looking to all the pack members around her, she was grateful that they had protected her how she could not protect them. She turned to look at Wren, she smiled at him and he smiled back at Wibeke. They knew that they had had a close shave with Warclaw and they knew that it wouldn’t be long before he came back. They had to prepare themselves and that was what they were going to do. However, unfortunately for them, Warclaw was thinking the exact same thing!
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Warclaw walked back into the forest, cursing as he went. How could he have been so idiotic as not to think out a plan? He still couldn’t believe how thick he had been to just straight up accuse Wibeke of something that he had no evidence for. Deep in his mind he knew that she had something to do with it and he was sure that he was going to prove it. Why would she have come alone when she knew what Warclaw was capable of? Why would she deny everything that he said if she didn’t know who had done it? That crystal was his only way out and his only way to solve this problem. Warclaw needed it now to wipe them off the face of the earth, but he could not. With Warclaw’s thoughts turning dark again, he saw something rush past his vision. Warclaw couldn’t make out what it was, but he knew that something, most likely a wolf, had run past but where and what was it running from? There was another black blur that had crossed his vision, but this time it was closer. Warclaw stopped walking and started to look around him. The black blur stopped in front of him.
Warclaw Page 5