"Warclaw by killing him you only make it worse for me. How am I supposed to carry on as Luna if I can't even protect myself and I get you to protect me all the time?"
"Winter, I only want you safe and I can't keep you that way if you don't let me in and tell me things. Is there anything else you're not telling me?" He looked into her deep blue eyes a waiting for an answer but she just shyly looked away. "Winter I'm your mate. You should be able to tell me anything yet you still struggle to do that. Is there something? Has he done anything else? Winter you must tell me." Warclaw was getting more and more frustrated that his mate couldn’t tell him what it was that was wrong.
Winter looked back at Warclaw and smiled bravely. "Yes there's nothing else. Now let's have a look at those wounds of yours, hey?" Warclaw smiled at Winter and thought it best that if she was to tell him, that it’d be in her own time.
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The sun shone down onto the land and onto the wolves. It was sunrise and all the birds tweeted happily in the trees. There was the chorus of the blackbird and the sweet song of the robin in the background. The sea rustled quietly in the background and the breeze gently rocked the leaves in the trees. It was peaceful even after the events that had occurred just the previous night.
Warclaw was already up patrolling the border of their den, making sure that no-wolf had been in the den during the night. Whilst searching every nuck and cranny in the den, Warclaw had found a young wolf hiding under a bush. Looking at the young wolf that was cowering beneath him, Warclaw spoke. "Come out from under there!" he ordered. The young wolf slowly crept forward from underneath the bush, with its ears back and head low, making sure that the Alpha knew that it was being submissive. “Stand tall young wolf and tell me your name!” Warclaw demanded forcefully. He wasn’t in the mood to mess around with a young wolf that was hanging around the edge of the pack. “Tell me your name!” The young wolf backed away slowly, afraid of what Warclaw would do. Warclaw sighed, seeing that he was frightening this poor wolf away. “My name is Warclaw. I am the Alpha of this pack. What has brought you here young wolf?” Warclaw said, trying to get the wolf to talk. The wolf stopped backing away and looked up towards Warclaw, still keeping its ears back and his head low. The wolf didn’t say anything. It carried on staring at Warclaw and it made him unnerved. Warclaw sighed again before taking a step towards the young wolf. “Come on, come with me.” Warclaw simply stated before walking back towards the main area of the den. As he walked the young wolf slowly followed behind, keeping its distance from Warclaw.
When they got towards the middle of the den, every-wolf was talking. Winter came up to the side of Warclaw. “I was wondering where you had gone. Who’s that?” She nodded to the wolf that was following Warclaw. “Oh that wolf?” Warclaw smirked taking the mick out of Winter. “I don’t know. I found him on the boarder of the pack hiding underneath a bush. I’ve asked him for his name but he won’t talk. See if you can get him to talk. That is if it is a guy.” Warclaw chuckled, before watching Winter stop walking and grin at him. She then waited for the wolf to catch up to where she was standing. Winter stood alongside the wolf and smiled gently. “What’s your name?” Winter asked gently, trying to encourage the wolf to talk. The wolf remained silent. “Come on, I’m sure that you can talk. My name’s Winter and I’m the Luna to the pack. I’m sure that whatever it is that you have been through can be forgotten and you are welcomed into our pack.” Winter was hoping that this would encourage the wolf to talk and slowly the wolf spoke. “Yes. I can talk. You’re nice unlike that other wolf.” The wolf’s voice trembled unsure of what to say. Winter smiled. For once she had one over Warclaw. “So what’s your name pup?”
“I don’t have a name. Where I come from they don’t give you names. They give you numbers...” The young wolf trailed off, realising that he had given away too much information. The wolf quickened his pace trying to get away from the conversation but she was hot on his tail. “Oh. Would you like a name?” Winter said sympathetically. The wolf stopped in his tracks and turned round to face Winter. “You…” he paused “You would give me a name?” Winter was shocked at his reaction but she smiled. “Of course, here we all have names! Let’s see.” She thought for a while and then suggested a few names. “How about Warren?” The wolf shook his head. “What about Watts?” The wolf shook his head again. “Hmmm…” Winter said in deep in thought. “How about Wren?” The young wolf looked up.
“Wren.” He said aloud before contemplating the name. “Yeah I like that name.”
“Right then, Wren it is and I won’t mention the numbers if you would rather me not. I’ll go tell Warclaw what your name is and I’ll come up with a back story for you.” She winked at Wren before running off to find Warclaw.
Wren hadn't realised that he had made an ally and she was a beautiful ally as well. Whilst lost in thought, Wren had walked into another wolf. "Watch where you are walking!" growled the wolf that he had just walked into. The wolf turned round and saw the young wolf below him and laughed. "Well who are you?" The wolf enquired and Wren who was now proud of his name, looked up to the wolf. "My name is Wren and what is yours?" Wren spoke confidently, realising that he had grown in confidence within the last five minutes. "My name is Waya, Wren. What were you doing walking into me anyway? You can't exactly miss me!" Waya laughed. "Sorry, I was just lost in my thoughts." Wren said, slightly embarrassed at his clumsiness.
"Lost in your own thoughts hey? More like 'lost in thought about Winter.'" He laughed. "I wouldn't go there if I was you. A word of warning, don't go near wolves that were once rogues. That one is certainly a live wire. Warclaw did this to me because I let her in." Waya smirked. Wren gazed at the scar on the side of Waya’s face.
"Oh. I thought she said she was the Luna? So she was once a rogue? I thought rogues couldn't become Luna?" Wren asked intrigued.
"Yes," Waya laughed "yes she was once a rogue. It's just her and Warclaw's fantasy that she wasn't a rogue.” Waya said laughing. “Warclaw’s quite protective over her now though.” Waya sensed that Wren wasn’t exactly keen on rogues and he made a mental note of that, before changing the subject “Anyway where are you from pup?"
"I'm not from around here. I don't actually know how I ended up here if I'm honest. I was just out for a walk and then bam! I'm in that bush with a giant, angry wolf barking at me." Talking about how he got here, did make Wren wonder how it all happened. Waya studied the wolf, getting up and walking around him.
Wren watched as Waya looked at him and circled him. "Can I help you look for something?" Wren asked confused and slightly unnerved about Waya circling him. "No, it's alright. You would do just fine in our protection group. Can you fight?" Waya asked, hoping for an answer that he was never going to get. "Oh right and no, I can't. Never been taught to, why?" Wren was intrigued as to why this wolf would want him in protecting the pack. "You just have a very big build, you are a little weak but you still have a big build. How about it? How about I train you up and you become one of the protectors? How does that sound?" Waya asked, smiling as he realised he had some-wolf that would now back him up when Warclaw would next come for him and some-wolf that would do as he said. "That sounds great but what about the Alpha? Doesn't he have to, you know, authorise it?" Wren was excited to be joining the protectors but was wary about Warclaw. “No he doesn’t for this. He relies on me making the right decision, but if it puts your mind at rest I shall ask him for you.”
“Is it alright if you check with him? As I think I am already on his bad side.” Wren asked.
“Of course, but if you were on Warclaw’s bad side, he would’ve done something to you, like kill you or at least try to kill you. So don’t worry you’re not on his bad side.” Waya said sympathetically.
“Oh right.” Wren said feeling a little more relaxed. Waya smiled, before walking Wren over to where the pack training ground was.
******************
The bright yellow ball of fire glared down upon the earth,
where the land met the ocean and the ocean met the sky. There was just a faint whisper of a breeze and a gentle rustle of leaves brushing lightly upon one another. The odd bird sung its harmonious song in the background that set the evening in a peaceful mood. The sky was a pale blue and there was not a cloud in sight. This was a glorious evening and by the time night had fallen, the day had very much stayed that peaceful and gentle way.
The day had been peaceful and quiet which was a rarity for the pack, especially with the new power that was growing inside of it. The day may have had no fighting, no arguing and no slaughter but, however quiet the pack was going to be, there was always going to be that one wolf who would be using this precious time, to plan against the very Alpha that it followed.
The rising power, which was boiling like a cauldron inside of the pack, was going to soon explode, taking every bit of sanity with it to the merciless depths below. The power was strong without the crystal, but with the little jewel in the pack, the power inside of the pack was becoming stronger and stronger and it had started to gain its own unrelenting confidence. But the Alpha had failed to see the rising power and was yet to feel the effect it was already having.
As the night drew in, the wolves had started to settle into their usual sleeping spots and where they could rest their heads until the sun rose once again. This had been a peaceful day and it was not likely to happen again for a while. But for the moment, the wolves relished in the freshness of the quiet and the peace that was in the land. The breeze was still as gentle as it could be, moving each strand of fur that was on the wolfs side upwards before gently placing it back down again, as if it has never been touched by its gentle hand.
******************
A wolf was sat on the rocks overlooking the pack. The wolf looked up to the darkening sky above it. Warclaw watched as the stars slowly appeared in the sky, one by one and each was brighter than the last one. The breeze gently ruffled his fur and he relished in the feeling and he soaked up the peace and quiet, before it was all gone. Warclaw knew that this was not going to last and Waya was planning something. 'I just know it. But what and when?' Warclaw thought to himself. 'He has got awfully close to Winter and not in a good way. I'll have to watch her from now on. She isn't going to like it but what other choice do I have?' Warclaw thought to himself before letting out a small sigh. He knew that something big was coming and it was going to be from Waya but he didn't know what.
"What are you doing out here Warclaw? It's late." Winter walked up and sat beside Warclaw, before yawning and settling down next to his large frame. "Waya has got something planned Winter and I fear for your safety, so please stay with me or with some-wolf that I can trust. I know you like to do your own thing but I mean it Winter, I don't want him getting closer than he already is to you. I know that this will be hard for you, as I know that you like to do your own thing but please? Stay close to me?” Warclaw looked into Winter’s eyes with sadness and misery. His eyes were pleading and as Winter looked more into his eyes, she could see how scared he was for her. “Warclaw, you don’t need to be scared for me. I can handle myself. I am a strong fighter, or have you forgotten that? But because you are begging me to, I shall try to stay close to you, even though it will drive me insane, I shall try nether-the-less.” Winter rolled her eyes at Warclaw, seeing how happy he was, before caring on “But what is it about Waya that makes you so sure that he has something planned and that he is going to try to take over the pack?” Winter asked curious.
“I am not sure Winter. I can feel it but I can’t put my paw on what it is. But I know that whatever it is, he is going to use you and it is going to happen very, very soon. And I want to be ready for when it does come.” Warclaw had determination in his voice and Winter could see it in his posture. She could also see it in his eyes. “Warclaw, what makes you think that he will use me? Or at least try to get at me, to get at you?”
“Winter you’re my mate and therefore you mean a lot to me, so if he was to threaten you or to harm you then I would do anything to stop that. And we both know how much he wants to become Alpha, harming you would be the ideal thing to do in order to get me out of the way.”
“Warclaw,” Winter sighed “I know how much you care for me but if anything was to happen to me, surely you would see that by carrying on, he wouldn’t have accomplished anything? Warclaw you need to carry on being Alpha of this pack whether I die or not. You are what the pack needs, Warclaw. Waya doesn’t have the first clue about running a pack. After all he isn’t of Alpha blood.” She smiled, hoping that this would make Warclaw chuckle. Warclaw looked up at Winter and looked into her sparkling blue eyes and smiled. “You always know how to make me laugh. But you are right. He doesn’t come from Alpha blood but that won’t stop him from trying to get at you. The thought of losing you doesn’t seem worth thinking about.”
“Then don’t.” Winter smiled. She watched him look back out across the land. Warclaw knew deep down that he couldn’t change fate and that Winter would die at the paws of Waya.
Winter looked across at Warclaw and then out across the land. The wind picked up until it gently raised the fur high on their back. Warclaw looked back at Winter and she looked back into his eyes, where she saw the pain of what fate would do to him. Unknowingly to Winter, a small gasp escaped from her mouth and Warclaw looked at her, worried that she was hurt. He darted round her, making sure that not one inch of her was hurt. “Are you alright? Are you hurt? Why did you gasp?”
“Did I?” She looked at Warclaw. Warclaw sighed and looked back at her. “Warclaw, I know that fate will deal me a harsh hand when it comes to the end, but you are strong and you can’t let Waya or any-wolf get in the way of protecting this pack, even if that’s me.” Winter looked away hurt and ashamed that she had to make Warclaw feel this way. “I know Winter but there is nothing that I can do about that. I have to accept it and if that means prolonging it than that's what it means. Winter I don't know what I would do without you but I'm guessing that at some point in the future, whether it's very soon or very far in the future, that I will learn what it is like to be without you.” Warclaw sighed and started to walk away towards the cave where they slept, when suddenly a wolf dashed up to Warclaw. “Warclaw, you must come at once! Waya has found a rouge at the edge of the den and he has it cornered. You must come at once!” There was a sense of urgency in the wolf's voice and Warclaw knew that the wolf was serious.
“I shall be there soon. Run and tell Waya that I am on my way.” Warclaw ordered in his booming Alpha voice. He looked across to Winter and sighed. By this time the wolf had already disappeared into the forest, on its way to Waya. “It’s typical isn't it? Can't get five minutes of peace can we?” Warclaw chuckled before remembering the urgency in the wolf’s voice. “Winter, stay here. I don’t want you going anywhere near the rogue. I don't know what it will be like. However go to the secret hiding place at the back of the cave and I'll come and get you when I have finished.” Warclaw told Winter with a stern look in his eyes.
“I'll be fine out here Warclaw.” Winter sighed, getting fed up with the constant orders that Warclaw gave concerning her safety. “Winter that's an order! Go there now. And DO NOT come out until I come back. Understood?” Winter nodded and Warclaw rushed off to see this rogue that had dared enter his territory.
******************
When Warclaw had gotten to the rogue, Waya had already pinned it to the ground. As Warclaw got to the wolf he could see that the wolf was not that old and was merely a pup. In fact one of the packs own pups. “What do you think you are doing Waya?!” Warclaw demanded. “This is one of our own! She is no rogue to this pack!” Then he realised that Waya had brought him here for a different purpose. “Why have you brought me here?” Warclaw’s growl had a sting in it and as he growled, Warclaw bared his teeth ready for an attack on him at any minute. “This is one of our own?” Waya mocked. “I would never have guessed that.” Waya let go of the pup and watched as it ran behind the safety of its Alpha. �
��However as to why I brought you here, I have no idea what you’re on about. Why should I bring you here?” Waya chuckled.
“Don’t give me that Waya!” Warclaw barked. “You know exactly why you have had me come here, so don't lie to me!” Warclaw growled again, jolting forward. “Temper, temper.” Waya mocked. Waya then turned serious. “I guess you should really know as to why I have supposedly brought you here. You have slowly started to realise my little game over the last few months, so I may as well give you a heads up.”
“Heads up about what? That I should watch my back? Or should I say Winters?” Warclaw growled.
“You are a smart wolf Warclaw, figure it out.” Waya smiled. “But just in case you aren’t smart enough, you are correct both times. You need to watch your back Warclaw. I am coming for you and one day you won't be able to protect her and she will be gone!” Waya growled. Warclaw glared at Waya with such hate and fury that you would have expected Waya to quiver in his paws, but Waya looked into these dark eyes and smiled. “That won't work with me Warclaw. You better get back to your mate, Warclaw! She won't be that for much longer!” Waya laughed. Warclaw glared at Wren and watched, silent, as Waya continued “She will be your downfall Warclaw. You better be prepared for what’s going to come your way, Warclaw!” Waya laughed evilly as he ran off, leaving Warclaw wondering where that left him and how he was going to protect his precious diamond. Warclaw turned round and started running for the cave that he had told Winter to hide in. He just hoped that today wasn't the day he was stupid enough to leave her on her own...
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