Warclaw

by Samantha McGivern

  Wibeke looked down at her chest to where the crystal was and saw that it was glowing. Marko saw the crystal glowing and understood why Warclaw had ran away. Marko started to follow Warclaw in his direction but he wasn’t quick enough. There was a blast from the crystal that sent the wolves crashing to the floor. Some smashed against the trees and you could hear bones cracking and breaking as they hit them. Warclaw turned around and saw the blast. As he watched the blast throw wolves against the trees and down into the hard ground, he smirked. “It serves them right!” Warclaw chuckled. He watched the first blast enclose on itself before throwing out the last blast. The wolves that got had gotten off of the ground were thrown violently back down to the floor again. Warclaw watched in amusement. He watched them until Marko came running towards him. “Warclaw!” Marko manoeuvred himself into an aggressive stance. Warclaw charged at Marko and growled showing his immensely shinny white teeth.

  As Marko and Warclaw clashed together, there was howling from where the crystal had blasted. Warclaw bit down on Marko taking chunks of fur and skin away from him. Blood started to spill everywhere. Marko bit down on Warclaws shoulder, releasing a red stream of blood. Blood poured onto the floor forming yet another puddle. Warclaw bit down hard onto Marko’s neck, crushing bone in the process. Marko’s body became weak and lifeless as it hung down from Warclaw’s mouth. It was the quickest death that Warclaw could have ever given Marko. Although Warclaw wanted to make it more painful for betraying him, Warclaw didn’t have the time to make his death any longer. He needed to get the Atlas Crystal off of Wibeke before she did something much worse. With Warclaw’s shoulder in shreds and blood pouring out from it, Warclaw ran back in the direction of the crystal. He ran with a slight limp but the adrenaline from knowing what was about to happen, kept him going and buried the pain deep within him.

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  When Warclaw got to Wibeke and the Atlas Crystal, there were wolves scattered everywhere. There were wolves bent around the trees and they were not moving. There were wolves on the floor unaware of what was happening around them. As Warclaw reached Wibeke, she had woken up and was looking at Wren, waiting for him to wake up. Warclaw stopped. He watched as Wibeke lay down and tears start to roll down her cheek. He sighed. “I know you are there Warclaw. Why have you come back? To see us yet again weaker than what we already are? Or did you come to mock at our failure? Or to laugh as we watch our loved ones die?”

  “No Wibeke. I came back for my Crystal. I told you what would happen if you didn’t give it to me and if you were to handle it. I kept the crystal in the dark to keep every-wolf safe from this.” Warclaw sighed and walked up to Wibeke. “I can save him, Wibeke. I can get the crystal to heal him. Do you want me to save him?” Wibeke thought carefully. Warclaw had done nothing but cause harm and distress to the pack. And now he was offering this? She looked from Warclaw to Wren and then back to Warclaw. Wibeke nodded slowly, tearing the crystal from around her neck and giving it to Warclaw. This was a risk she had to take, but who wouldn’t take a risk for someone they love?

  Warclaw lay down beside Wibeke and placed the crystal on Wren’s head. He started chanting words that Wibeke didn’t understand. Wibeke watched Warclaw for a bit and then looked to her mate. She watched as the life slowly dripped back into him, one minute droplet at a time. Slowly Wren’s chest started to rise and then fall. She could feel his breath on the pad of her paw. His chest rose quicker and quicker. Wren started breathing normally and Wibeke hailed with a sigh of relief. “He’ll be awake in a few minutes.” Warclaw said before taking the crystal off of Wrens head. He got up and started to walk around the other wolves. “Thank you Warclaw.” Wibeke shouted to him. ‘There is no need to thank me; you don’t know what is yet to come.’ Warclaw thought. “No need.” Warclaw simply remarked keeping his thoughts to himself.

  Wren made a whining noise and drew Wibeke’s attention back to him. Slowly Wren rose from his brush with death. He looked around and noticed that there were a lot of dead wolves lying on the ground. Willem was among the dead and so was Wanbi. Wren nudged Wibeke and nodded over to where their bodies laid. Wibeke gasped as she realised the true devastation of the blast. It had killed all of the remaining survivors from that storm that had happened only a month ago. There was just Wibeke and Wren. And then there was Warclaw. Wren got up slowly, making sure he had his balance. When he finally stood up he looked around and saw all the dead wolves littering the floor. He walked among them to see if there were any survivors. Wibeke got up and looked around at the devastation she had caused by helping Marko. This was not what she had expected to happen. And certainly not what was about to happen next!

  Warclaw charged upon Wibeke from behind, knocking her to the ground for a second time. Wren was too far away for Wibeke to call for his help. Wren was too far to notice what was happening to his mate. Wibeke was crushed underneath Warclaw’s weight. She struggled underneath him, trying to get free and push him off of her but Warclaw stayed put. Wibeke looked around her for support but Wren was too far away, like Warclaw had predicted and had waited for him to be. Warclaw smirked. “A life for a life. Isn’t that what they say?” He chuckled. Suddenly Wren came running up to them both. But before Wren could help his poor soul mate, Warclaw chomped down onto Wibeke’s neck, ending Wibeke’s life in the most horrific and quickest way possible. Warclaw had waited for this time to come for a long time. He had waited for the moment when he could finally rid himself of that pest and finally deal with the real suspect. Wren. Wren was the one Warclaw was after all this time. Warclaw had only revived him to see Warclaw take away the person he held most dear.

  Wren was angry. He howled. His pace got quicker until he had finally reached the murderer. "YOU! Why did you have to do that to her?!" Wren said trying to hold his emotions back.

  "I've been waiting for the opportune moment to strike you down. Ever since you struck down my Winter. I've waited night and day. Year after year I have waited to get at you. And now I finally have that moment!" Warclaw laughed evilly. Wren felt a lone tear roll down his cheek and the memory of the day he took Winter's life. "I never knew." He paused in thought. "She was once a rogue! She shouldn't have been Luna!"

  "Winter was no rogue! She never was. She was always Luna and you betrayed her! How could you? I thought you were ordered to kill Winter to make me weaker, but I was wrong. You wanted to kill her all along. You wanted the crystal all for yourself! Waya wanted to be Alpha. That was all he wanted and he didn’t have the guts to make it happen, so you did it for him. We tried to stop him but you had to kill her. She was the sweetest thing in the world. I have spent every waking moment tracking you and Waya down. Now I finally have the one that killed her in my grasp. And now that I have you, you are going to pay for what you did!"

  "But you didn't have to kill Wibeke!" Wren growled.

  "And YOU didn't have to kill my Winter!" Warclaw growled. “You will perish like all the others who were involved in your plan!” Warclaw was to blame for Wibeke's death and Wren was to blame for the loss of Winter. "I will kill you Warclaw for this!" Wren growled again. Warclaw chuckled his evil laugh. "You wouldn't be the first to have said that to me, Wren!" Warclaw and Wren charged at each other...

  Chapter 12: Winter.

  The sky was a beautiful burgundy colour as the sun started to set behind the horizon. The sky was clear of clouds. The setting sun was magnificent; throwing out its last light across the land before sinking behind the hills. As the light started to fade out, the moon made its presence known, beaming its very own dazzling colour towards the earth. As time passed, the last light coming from the sun faded and the beauty of the night came to show. There were stars shining brightly all over the sky and they beamed with such light it would light up all the darkest places in the land. The stars mesmerized the land below them, making everything stand still and just look at them in awe.

  The land was quiet and there was hardly any movement. It was peaceful and tranquil. The trees rustled quietly in
the wind, giving the settling sound of the leaves whispering to one another. The wind blew a gentle, soft breeze through the fur of the wolves. Their land was the most peaceful it had ever been. The delicate sound of the sea was in the background giving the leaves a smooth beat to sway themselves to. The land was certainly picturesque and magnificent in all its beauty.

  A wolf looked up towards the sky and watched as the stars twinkled and shone brightly. The wolf listened to the music of the sea and to the hum of the leaves and swayed to the gentle beat. The wolf let the breeze ruffle its fur gently and as the wolf inhaled the sweet air, it closed its eyes. When the wolf opened its eyes, it felt the air shift beside it. “What are you doing here on your own?” asked the wolf that had shifted the air. The wolf that had shifted the air was pitch black and had bright, sparkling blue eyes which dazzled in the moonlight. The wolf had a big, heavy build and sat proudly next to the other wolf. The wolf’s name was Warclaw. The wolf that was sat next to him was ice white and the moonlight shimmered on the wolf’s smooth fur. The wolf had piercing blue eyes that also glimmered in the moonlight. The wolf’s name was Winter. She was as quiet as the breeze but as powerful as a hurricane. “Just taking it all in and thinking about life.” Winter smiled.

  “Oh, thinking about life? What do you mean thinking about life? Our life is perfect as it is Winter. There isn’t anything that could make it better.” Warclaw chuckled. He looked into Winter’s eyes and she looked away shyly. “What’s wrong Winter?” Warclaw asked concerned.

  “It’s Waya. He’s been trying to get to me and he’s being weird towards me. I don’t know what to do Warclaw. It has to stop.” Winter sighed and a small droplet of water rolled down her face. Warclaw stared into Winter’s eyes shocked and worried. Not only did he feel these feelings, he felt rage take a hold of him. Warclaw cared deeply for Winter and to see her cry, killed him. As Winter had said, this needed to stop and Warclaw was going to make it… but not just yet.

  Winter looked into Warclaw’s deep blue eyes and saw that Warclaw was upset and angry. Winter didn’t want to tell Warclaw because she didn’t want make him upset and angry. He couldn’t be controlled when he was angry and their little crystal would only emphasise it. That’s how they had won battles and protected their pack in the past. But Waya was going to destroy Warclaw and Winter didn’t want to be the reason that it happened. “Warclaw don’t get too angry. I can see it in your eyes. Please. I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you would get so enraged. I don’t want you to get hurt! So please,” Winter begged “please don’t get too angry, the crystal will control you and you know it! You won’t stop until you have killed him!”

  “He needs to go! He won’t stop until he has what he wants Winter. Waya should not even go anywhere near you! You are my mate and he should know his place. He shouldn’t go anywhere near you!! He will pay for this and if it is with his life, then it is with his life! I will NOT have him come near you Winter. I simply won’t.” By this time Warclaw had gotten up off of the ground and had started pacing back and forth, trying to control his raging temper. It hurt Warclaw that Winter didn’t want to tell him about this but he was more enraged that one of his protectors of the pack, would do something like this. ‘He will get what he deserves. One day. One day!’ Warclaw thought to himself. He was angry and he could feel his temper rising and rising and like a cauldron it was getting hotter and hotter.

  “Warclaw please, we need to protect this pack but by you killing Waya isn’t going to help. He is one of our best protectors in our pack and we need him. I know you want to make him suffer and believe me, so do I, but you have to see that this is not the way for you to do this. His time will come, we both know it but we need to protect this pack!” Winter said trying to calm Warclaw down. But his temper remained the same, if not more enraged with the taste of blood slowly seeping into his mouth, droplet by droplet. ‘If steam could come out of his ears, there would be stacks of it.’ Winter chuckled to herself. Shaking her head, Winter got off of the ground that she had been sat on and walked up towards the pacing wolf. Winter stood in front of him and Warclaw stopped pacing. “It still doesn’t mean he can get away with it, Winter. He still has to pay for it. I know he is one of our best protectors but when something like this happens, this should take priority over everything else. He should not mess with the Alpha’s mate and you are exactly that, my mate. This cannot go unpunished Winter!”

  “I know Warclaw, but you need to stop and think about this, before you go and do something that you will later regret.” Winter said in a soothing tone, trying to get Warclaw’s head back to reality and to try to deflate his temper. “I have thought enough about this! This will be sorted once and for all!” Warclaw growled before sprinting off in the direction of Waya. ‘Oh high Alpha help us!’ Winter thought before running off after Warclaw.

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  “Waya!” Warclaw howled across the pack. Warclaw had spotted Waya trying to gather wolves to turn against him and Winter. With his ears back and his head low, Waya turned round to face Warclaw. “Trying to be submissive Waya isn’t going to work, especially not after what you have been trying to do to my mate!!” Warclaw growled. There was gasping among the wolves. What had happened between Waya and Winter? They did not know.

  “Come and stand in front of me you coward! Don’t be cowardice! Take responsibility for your actions. You knew what would happen if you went near her. She is my mate and my mate only. So come and face me!” Warclaw growled with the heat of the rage that was burning ferociously in his chest. The taste of blood was strong in his mouth and the anger he felt towards Waya was potent.

  Slowly from behind the crowd, Waya appeared in front of Warclaw. His ears were back, his head lowered and his tail between his legs, but this did not help his situation. “Stand up and face me! These were your actions Waya! Aren’t you then one who, it has been said, will take over me and Winter and try to become the Alpha of the pack?” Warclaw had started to circle around Waya, making him feel more uncomfortable. “I’m guessing you wanted my attention, well now you’ve got it. You have got the opportune moment to strike me down and are you going to do it? I think not, you COWARD!” Warclaw growled, baring his pearlescent teeth at Waya, trying to get him to fight.

  Gradually Waya pricked his ears up, straightened out his tail from underneath his legs and rose to Warclaw’s height. “I am no coward!” Waya growled back taking his stand. Warclaw chuckled before snapping “Well then, prove it!”

  They circled each other, both growling at each other and baring their teeth to one another. Warclaw snapped at Waya, giving Waya a warning of what was about to come. The circle got smaller and smaller, making the gap between them shrink. Waya growled at Warclaw and made a lunge for him. Warclaw was too quick for Waya and manoeuvred into a position where he could throw Waya down to the ground. In a split second, Waya was on the ground and Warclaw’s teeth were sunk into the scruff of his neck. Blood was dripping down from his neck and slowly onto the cold, hard ground beneath him. Warclaw bite down again onto Waya’s neck making him whimper in pain. The blood started to flow heavier with Warclaw’s teeth sinking deeper and deeper into Waya’s neck.

  “WARCLAW! STOP!!” Winter barked rushing to the two fighting wolves. It shattered the silence like a piece of glass smashing against the ground into a thousand pieces. Warclaw immediately let go of Waya’s neck and looked up to Winter. She was standing behind Warclaw, looking at him with worry and hurt. As Warclaw slowly released Waya from underneath his paw, taking the pressure off of Waya’s shoulder, Waya quickly got up and pinned Warclaw down to the cold ground. Warclaw fell to the ground with a loud, painful thud. While growling at Warclaw, he had bitten into Waya’s leg causing him to go from growling aggressively into howling in pain. He lifted the paw Warclaw had bitten quickly and hopped backwards, watching, horrified, as the blood flowed out of his leg. Warclaw kicked Waya with his back paws and he went crashing to the ground. Warclaw was on his paws again and at Waya’s nec
k. He bit down hard onto where it hurt the most and Waya howled in pain.

  Winter came running up to Warclaw and tried to get in-between them to stop this fight. She managed to get between Warclaw and Waya. “Let go of him Warclaw. He has learnt his lesson. It’s time to let him go.” She spoke quietly and softly to Warclaw, before slowly watching him release Waya from his tight grip. Warclaw backed slowly away, keeping his eyes on Waya as he lay bleeding on the ground. “You stay away from her Waya. Remember your place! You were lucky this time. Next time you won’t be!” Warclaw growled loudly making sure that Waya could hear him, before running off into the distance, leaving the stunned wolves glaring down at the weakened wolf. Winter hurried off after Warclaw to make sure that he was alright; after all she was his mate.

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  Warclaw sat cleaning the wounds that he had acquired whilst fighting with Waya. As he cleaned the wound on his front right leg, Warclaw was deep in thought about what Waya had done and he wondered why Winter had let him live. It puzzled Warclaw but he had never really understood female wolves. Warclaw wanted to know why she would want him still alive after all that he has done to her. 'I know Winter is compassionate and loving but there has to be something that she isn't telling me for her to actually let him live.' Warclaw thought to himself, worriedly. Feeling the air shift beside him, Warclaw saw a shinning white paw being placed on top of his own. "Why didn't you let me finish it? Why did you let him live and not get what he deserves? Winter, he should not be allowed to get away with this!" Warclaw said agitated.