Shadow
I grew up in the dark, away from our enemies, the humans. Their only desire is to hunt us, and rid the Earth of our kind. We want to be left alone, is that too much to ask? They tell stories of us werewolves, stories that I assure you are not true. They terrorize people with their stories of vicious attacks, and so the world doesn’t see us for who we are.
My name is Shadow Dark-Claw.
Things started to evolve, when my father, Chief Silver Blood Dark-Claw, appointed me and my two friends as his personal spies. You see, we’ve got enemies amongst ourselves, a few young ones, of my age, followed after their parents, and to this day work with the humans to destroy us, the Ukani Clan. Years ago, their parents told humans of our location, who then raided our dens, and killed many of us. Though I was only a babe at the time, I will never forget my mother’s murderous roar, as her heart was pelted with a dozen bullets; my fathers’ never been the same since. That kind, caring, giving, chief that we all once knew, was destroyed, ripped away with my mother’s heart. ‘A chief must care for its own,’ is his pithy aphorism now. We cannot trust anyone, except each other; it’s true, but even that trust can be broken.
The day we got chosen to work for my father, we were given an amulet. The amulet, hides our animalistic characteristics and features, and assembles our weakest assets, such as beauty, love, and feelings- to make us look our human part. We are monitored by the few humans, my father trusts (I personally do
not
trust them). I will have to live a few weeks, like a human; out of the dark woods, into the human domain. We will stay in a disguised security shelter, as a home, and go to school. Though I have my friends at my side, self-doubt keeps nagging at my side; only destiny knows my fate. The changing moon is coming, the changing moon, comes around every ten years, to supply our clan with power to survive. If we do not stop the traitors, and their allies, they will reverse the effects of the moon, and kill us all. But, what if I’m not ready? What am I going to do?
Angel
“Dad, don’t you believe destroying nature is wrong?” Angel protested, “What about the animals!”
Angel is sixteen, a human girl, with a deep love for nature and animals. On the contrary, her father, Jim Lowe, and his crew work to destroy the forest, 'seeking out its monsters and ridding the Earth of evil.'
“Look Sunshine, I hate destroying nature, just as much as you hate me doing it, but my job keeps this Goddamn roof over your head, and them clothes on your back. Besides it aint nature I’m huntin,’ it’s those damn monsters.”
Jim says, “Those monsters who killed your mother.”
“Dad, you know, revenge aint everything,” Angel said, slipping into her green hoodie.
“I’m not gonna argue with you, Hon,” Jim smiled as he slid her backpack up, onto her shoulders.
“You have fun at school now, Sugar.”
Shadow
“Good morning class, today we have a few new students joining us,” announced Mr. Little, the English teacher.
He’s about forty-eight, average height, and a little too energetic for his own good. I take to my senses, and sniff out the smell of mixed emotions in the air; some people are bored to death and just want to get the hell outta here.
“Kyle, please come on up first, and introduce yourself.”
I’ve gotten a fake name, ID, everything. So does my friends Fang and Scar (Whom are pretending to be my twin brothers-triplets).
“My name is Kyle Riley. I’m sixteen; my favorite colors are red and yellow. Uh, I like to play soccer, and I was born half an hour before my other brothers, which technically make me the oldest-”
A few students give half laughs.
“And so, uh, yeah. That’s pretty much it.”
I felt weird, standing there in tan khakis, and a white button up shirt. It felt all kinds of unnatural compared to my fur. Everything felt different, even down to the yellow in my eyes, which for some reason, didn’t change.
“What’s your favorite movie? Favorite song? What school did you go, before this? Are those contacts in your eyes?”
I’m bombarded with loads of questions that pull me from my thoughts.
“Quiet everyone, that’s enough questions,” interjects Mr. Little.
Then Scar and Fang, or Michael and Chris introduce themselves. Our desks were already prepared for us; we sat together in the back of the classroom. After about an hour, a large bell rang that pierced our ears; the sensitivity levels in our senses can’t be changed, so we’re just going to have to live with this, for some time. We were given a list of our classes, and I had History next, which meant I’d be alone, since Fang and Scar (Chris and Michael-I gotta get used to saying that) - have Math.
I walked slowly down the hallways, taking in everything; girls huddled against lockers whispering and giggling, some even pointed at me – why? A few boys gave me weary looks, and some people smiled and passed by with a Hi, are you new? Though, I can smell their inquisition rising, when I’d just smile and nod.
Thud…Thud…Thud
The loud, rapid pitter-patter of footsteps, gained on me. As I turned, I saw three girls headed straight for me, and before I knew it, Bam! Me and my books were sprawled on the floor.
“Ohmigod!” cried one of the girls, as she bent down to pick up my books.
I stood, and she handed me, my books. “I am so sorry, are you alright?” She asked.
“Yeah,” I all but grumbled. I turned to walk away.
“Are you new here?”
I turned and looked at her; with her sheepish smile, and dancing brown, doe eyes. She was just as vulnerable to me, as were the Deers I hunted in the forest. A predator standing before her, but she perceived not.
“Yeah, I’m new,” I answered.
She held out her hand, “I’m Angel Lowe. Welcome to Ukani Springs High.”
“Uh, thanks. I’m Kyle, Kyle Riley,” I replied, taking her hand.
It was much different than my natural way of meeting- sniffing, growling- things humans find strange.
“Angel, let’s go!” One of the other two girls, I hadn’t realized were standing there barked.
The third girl, who hadn’t said anything, just looked at me, and then the hair that would have normally been on my back, stood on end. Could this be one of ‘them’?
“C’ya around Riley,” Angel smiled, as she and her two friends strolled away.
“What’s going on?” Scar-Michael, whom I didn’t know was right behind me, asked.
“Nothing.”
Of course there was no point in lying, I’m sure he smelt a change in my scent, or maybe heard my heartbeat- wait, why is my heart beating faster and harder than usually? I’ve never felt like this before, I felt vulnerable, when she approached, when it should have been her; how’d I miss that? Why am I just now recollecting my emotions?
“Don’t get connected to them,” Fang (Chris), warned.
